The Phlegmatic at The Palace of Versailles, France

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Human: This marble sculpture titled 'Le Flegmatique' (Eng. Phlegmatic, meaning sluggish or apathetic) was crafted between 1675-1679 by French sculptor Matthieu Lespagnandelle (1616-1689). The statue was created alongside three other sculptures personifying the allegory of human conditions: The Choleric, The Blood and The Melancholic. This phlegmatic temperament, characterized as someone with a cold or slow character, is represented by an older man with his arms folded, wrapped in a thick cloak. At his feet lies a tortoise, symbolizing being a slow and quiet animal. The original sculpture was taken from the park in 2007. Very eroded, it was sheltered in the lower gallery of Versailles after its restoration. A plaster mold now replaces it in the gardens. This is part of a series of sculptures known as the Grande Commande, commissioned by King Louis XIV in 1674 for the Gardens of Versailles. The initial project was proposed in 1674 and plans were drawn up by Charles Le Brun to depict what the series of 24 sculptures could represent. The idea was to be "designed as a broad review of God's effects on the world and a unity of man and nature" with personifications of various natural phenomena and landmarks. The 24 sculptures were separated into individual groups of four, depicting: 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 "Scan The World." Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open source community effort. If you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.