Painted off-white lead sculpture on red marble pedestal, Diana of Versailles (Diane Chasseresse), probably by John Cheere (1709 – London 1787). Lead statue of Diana of Versailles, short robe/dress above knee, sandals to feet, striding forwards, reaching with her right hand for an arrow from the quiver on her back, lacking her accompanying stag though. The original marble antique statue is now in the Louvre, Paris (moved in 1792/98) but was first recorded for certain at Fontainebleau in 1586, having been taken from the chateau at Meudon, a good century before many of the ancient statues were exported. A bronze copy was made for Charles I in 1633/34 by Hubert Le Sueur (RCIN 71444). Original position of the Stourhead statue is unknown but by 1760s it was in the Pantheon. Documentation in Wilberry Account Book (Hoare's Bank) shows statue of Apollo on same 1744 account as Diana, probably another plaster 'Belvedere Apollo' on South Lawn and then in Temple of Apollo in 1801 (Woodbridge 1982, p.55). ‘’Crescent moon’’ headdress
Author: John Cheere (London 1709 – London 1787) | Date: 1744 CE
