Middag 1692 - 1739

This is an engraving by Louis Desplaces, made in France in the early 18th century. It depicts a marble sculpture in the gardens of Versailles. The sculpture itself, made by Gaspar de Marci, is titled 'Le Midy', or midday, and features a classical female figure, semi-draped, attended by a cupid. But what did it mean to place sculptures like this in a public garden? In the context of the French court, the sculptural program at Versailles was intended to represent absolute power, associating the King with the glory of antiquity. Through the institutional structure of the royal gardens, social norms about hierarchy and authority were reinforced. Historical sources from the period, such as court documents and visitor accounts, might help us understand how this image worked to shape the values of its time. Only through attention to its original social and institutional context can we start to recover the meanings of this artwork.