Sculpted in marble, La Loire et le Loiret rises before us. This impressive artwork, right here in the Jardin des Tuileries, tells a story of French artistry and royal history. La Loire et le Loiret depicts the two rivers, personified as reclining figures. The Loire, a majestic matron, rests on a sculpted rock. Beside her, the Loiret, a younger figure, pours water from an urn. The detail in the marble is exquisite. Notice the flowing drapery and the lifelike expressions on their faces.
Commissioned for the park of Marly, La Loire et le Loiret was originally part of a larger ensemble of river sculptures. Corneille Van Clève, a Parisian sculptor, crafted this masterpiece between 1699 and 1707. The inscription “C. VAN CLEVE / PARISINUS / Ft 1707” is etched on the back of the Loire’s stone seat. Imagine the sculptor meticulously carving each detail from the marble block. He brought the rivers to life, capturing their essence in stone. Van Clève received payments for his work between 1703 and 1707, finally completing the project in the latter year.
The sculpture initially resided in the Bassin des Nappes at Marly. It was later moved to the Tuileries Garden in 1719. It stood proudly at the foot of the Fer-à-Cheval. In 1993, the original La Loire et le Loiret was moved to the Louvre Museum for preservation. A replica now graces the spot in the Tuileries, allowing visitors to continue to admire this work of art. La Loire et le Loiret is a testament to the grandeur of French sculpture and a beautiful reminder of the history it embodies. The next time you stroll through the Tuileries, take a moment to appreciate this hidden gem. Its presence enriches the garden’s beauty and tells a story of artistic passion and royal patronage.