Sleeping Endymion, 1716. This sculpture depicts Endymion, a beautiful young shepherd from Greek mythology. Selene, the personification of the moon, was so entranced by him that she asked Zeus to grant Endymion immortality. Zeus did so, but at a cost; he put Endymion into an eternal sleep. Here, Endymion rests against the base of a tree, eyes closed and face tilted upward to the sky. His dog and shepherd's crook lie at his feet. The piece is skillfully carved out of white marble, with open space left between his leg and the statue base, and between his outstretched arm and the rest of his body.
Sleeping Endymion, 1716. This sculpture depicts Endymion, a beautiful young shepherd from Greek mythology. Selene, the personification of the moon, was so entranced by him that she asked Zeus to grant Endymion immortality. Zeus did so, but at a cost; he put Endymion into an eternal sleep. Here, Endymion rests against the base of a tree, eyes closed and face tilted upward to the sky. His dog and shepherd's crook lie at his feet. The piece is skillfully carved out of white marble, with open space left between his leg and the statue base, and between his outstretched arm and the rest of his body. The base is incised with a pattern of bark and leaves, heightening the illusion that the young man has fallen asleep in a forest or meadow.
Size: 4176px × 5404px
Photo credit: © Heritage Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1686-1754, 18th, agostino, art, century, cleveland, cornacchini, heritage, italian, italy, marble, museum, sculpture
