Two Muses

17th century

Not on view

This drawing is a preparatory composition for a ceiling painting in the Hôtel de la Rivière on the Place Royale, which is today 14 place des Vosges. Built for Antoine Ribaud, controller of finances from 1606-1607, the hôtel was acquired in 1652 by Louis Barbier de la Rivière, bishop of Langres. The contract for the commission dates December 31, 1652, and it details the decoration of two adjacent rooms on the first floor: "la Grand Chambre" and "le Grand Cabinet." Le Brun painted a Triumph of Psyche on the ceiling of the Grande Chambre, which depicted four scenes depicting episodes from the life of Psyche. In addition, each corner of the coving contained eight muses called upon by Apuleius to entertain guests at the wedding of Cupid and Psyche. The MMA sheet depicts the muse of music, Euterpe, who plays a flute; the second muse is Urania, the muse of astronomy, whose hand rests on her attribute—the celestial globe.

Artwork Details

Title: Two Muses
Artist: Charles Le Brun (French, Paris 1619–1690 Paris)
Date: 17th century
Medium: Red chalk, heightened with white, on beige paper
Dimensions: 14 3/16 x 9 13/16 in. (36 x 25 cm.)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: Mrs. Carl L. Selden Gift, in memory of Carl L. Selden, 1986
Object Number: 1986.48
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

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Alexander and the Family of Darius from a set of The Story of Alexander, Charles Le Brun French, Wool, silk (17-18 warps per inch, 8 per cm.), Flemish, probably Brussels — Alexander and the Family of Darius from a set of The Story of Alexander
Charles Le Brun
ca. 1700–1735

Les Pavillions du Jardins de Marly

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The Battle of Alexander against Porus (La défaite de Porus)

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Bernard Picart

1860

The Battle of Arbela from a set of The Story of Alexander, Charles Le Brun French, Wool, silk (17-18 warps per inch, 8 per cm.), Flemish, probably Brussels — The Battle of Arbela from a set of The Story of Alexander
Charles Le Brun
ca. 1700–1735

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