Euterpe
after the Antique
Bronze, 20 × 8 ½ × 5 in.
Cast by F. Barbedienne Foundry, c. 1875
This finely cast bronze, produced by the celebrated French foundry of Ferdinand Barbedienne, depicts Euterpe, the mythical Greek Muse of song and poetry. One of the nine daughters of Zeus, the Muses were led by Apollo, god of light and truth, each inspiring humanity in a different art or science.
Euterpe, here shown holding her emblematic aulos (an ancient double-fluted instrument), embodies the creative force behind music and verse. Modeled after antique examples, the work reflects the 19th-century Neoclassical fascination with classical antiquity, translating its enduring ideals into bronze with remarkable detail and elegance.
