Gipsmodellen voor kariatiden op het Palais du Louvre door Georges Jacquot c. 1855 - 1857

Edouard Baldus captured these plaster models for caryatids on the Palais du Louvre. These figures, draped in classical robes, echo the ancient Greek caryatids of the Erechtheion, where female figures support the temple roof. The motif of supporting female figures carries deep symbolism. Consider the Atlantes, male figures similarly burdened, or even the myth of Atlas himself, bearing the weight of the heavens. The caryatid, however, introduces a layer of grace and resilience. The gesture of support is powerful, repeated across cultures and epochs. Think of the Madonna della Misericordia, sheltering supplicants under her cloak, a similar expression of protection and burden-bearing. This imagery taps into our collective memory, evoking a deep emotional response to themes of strength and sacrifice. Ultimately, these caryatids embody the enduring human need to see strength in beauty and to find figures who can carry our burdens, whether literal or symbolic.