The sculpture depicts two adult female figures and a small child-like figure with wings. The adult figures are dressed in flowing garments, arranged in a manner that suggests movement, while the child figure stands between them. The wings on the child figure indicate a mythological representation. The color of the sculpture is a muted, monochromatic shade resembling a light stone or plaster. The sculpture is engraved with the names "TERPSICHORE" and "ERATO" at the base. The figures could represent Greek Muses. The sculpture is intricately detailed with an emphasis on the soft texture and graceful outlines of the figures.
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The sculpture depicts two adult female figures and a small child-like figure with wings. The adult figures are dressed in flowing garments, arranged in a manner that suggests movement, while the child figure stands between them. The wings on the child figure indicate a mythological representation. The color of the sculpture is a muted, monochromatic shade resembling a light stone or plaster. The sculpture is engraved with the names "TERPSICHORE" and "ERATO" at the base. The figures could represent Greek Muses. The sculpture is intricately detailed with an emphasis on the soft texture and graceful outlines of the figures.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Apollo and the Muses

Jules Boilly after Pierre Paul Prud'hon

Date
1851
Medium
lithograph
Dimensions
sheet: 35 x 22 cm (13 3/4 x 8 11/16 in.) plate: 16.4 x 12 cm (6 7/16 x 4 3/4 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
2011.139.54
Credit line
Gift of the Estate of Leo Steinberg
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CG-E

Subjects and terms

  • Woman
  • Nude
  • Musical instrument
  • Fabric
  • Cherub
Provenance

Leo Steinberg [1920-2011], New York; gift to NGA 2011.

Inscription

lower center in plate [on platform]: TERPSICHORE * ERATO; below plate: Dess. par Prud'hon Imp. Bertauts Lith. par Jul. boilly/ Paris, Marchants, Edit. Alliance des Art[s]; by later hand, verso upper right, in graphite: EE 545

NGA object ID 156075. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.