Aphrodite au Pilier at The Louvre, Paris

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Initially identified as Thalia, muse of comedy, the statue was then taken for Euterpe, muse of flute-playing, in the nineteenth century, before being definitively identified as an ancient replica of Aphrodite leaning against a pillar. This statue has been subject to numerous interpretations over the centuries. First, it was identified as a muse because of the crow and the bay branch carved on the pillar, two symbols of Apollo, protector of the Muses. Some thought they recognized Thalia, muse of comedy, with a grimacing mask in her right hand. Later, in the nineteenth century, the statue was believed to represent Euterpe, muse of flute-playing, whose attribute is a double flute. The statue is very likely to be a reproduction of Aphrodite of the Gardens made at the end of the fifth century BC by Alcamenes, an Athenian sculptor and contemporary of Phidias. The original, described by Pausanias, was in Athens. Wearing a chiton and a robe covering only the lower part of her body, the goddess leans on a pillar or tree trunk with a distinct slouching of the hips, emphasized by the left leg crossed over the right. This piece is firmly in the "mannerist" style that developed from 430 BC onward. The unstable pose makes a support for the figure necessary and was one of the novelties introduced at the end of the fifth century. The treatment of the drapery foreshadows the transparency effects of the 'wet drapery' style and reveals the female form; the naked body lies just beneath the surface of the fabric. The statue has been a part of many collections over time, including that of Louis XIV. It was first identified as Thalia, muse of comedy, due to the crow and bay branch carved on the pillar. Later, it was believed to represent Euterpe, muse of flute-playing, because of the double flute attribute. Finally, in the nineteenth century, the statue was identified as a replica of Aphrodite leaning against a pillar, similar to decorations found on late fifth-century BC bronze reliefs. Aphrodite of the Gardens, attributed to Alcamenes, is a famous sculpture from the end of the fifth century BC. The original was in Athens and depicted the goddess wearing a chiton and robe covering only the lower part of her body. She leans on a pillar or tree trunk with a distinct slouching of the hips. The statue's pose and drapery handling are reminiscent of sculptures found in the temple of Athena Nike and certain caryatids of the Erechtheum, two buildings on the Acropolis in Athens where Alcamenes likely worked. This statuary type is also seen in a relief in the Louvre that reproduces the base of statues for the temple of Hephaestus in Athens. The misadventures of Aphrodite Leaning Against a Pillar have been many, with the statue being identified as Thalia, Euterpe, and finally as an ancient replica of Aphrodite. This piece is firmly in the "mannerist" style that developed from 430 BC onward, characterized by unstable poses and transparency effects. The treatment of the drapery on this statue foreshadows the 'wet drapery' style and reveals the female form beneath the fabric. The naked body lies just beneath the surface, highlighted by a rich play of folds with symmetrical curves tracing an almond shape around the belly and others highlighting the curve of the thighs. The garment has slipped away slightly to reveal the left shoulder, a motif inspired by goddesses depicted in the Parthenon frieze and eastern pediment. This statue is part of "Scan The World", a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures created for free public access through MyMiniFactory.