L'Heure de Midi at The Palace of Versailles, France

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This magnificent marble sculpture was crafted by French sculptor Gaspard Marsy. L'Heure de Midi (The Hour of Noon) is depicted as Venus and Cupid, symbolizing the intense heat of noon compared to the warmth of love and the pain its flames can inflict. This masterpiece is part of a series of sculptures commissioned by King Louis XIV in 1674 for the Gardens of Versailles. Initially proposed in 1674, Charles Le Brun designed the initial plans for the series of 24 sculptures, envisioning a comprehensive review of God's effects on the world and the unity of man and nature. The idea was to showcase personifications of various natural phenomena and landmarks. The 24 sculptures were divided into four distinct series: The Four Times of Day - Morning, Midday, Evening, Night Four Continents of the World - Europe, Asia, Africa, America The Four Seasons - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter The Four Elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water The Four Human Temperaments - The Choleric, The Phlegmatic, The Sanguine, The Melancholic The Four Poems - The Heroic Poem, The Lyric, The Satirical, The Pastoral This object is part of the "Scan The World" initiative. Scan the World is a non-profit project launched by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort. If you have interesting items nearby that you'd like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate.