# Galatea [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [LE LORRAIN, Robert]() - Date: 1701-1750 - Technique: Marble ## Commentary In 1701 Le Lorrain was received at the Académie, on presentation of the marble Galatea, signed and dated that year, and intended as a pendant to <A onclick="return OpenOther\('/html/c/cleve\_c/polyphem.html'\)" href="/html/c/cleve\_c/polyphem.html">Van Clève's Polyphemus.</A> Like that, it takes its inspiration from Annibale Carracci's fresco in the Farnese Gallery, though Le Lorrain has not attempted to duplicate Galatea's flying twist of drapery. But the pose — one of momentary stillness, interpreted gracefully and undramatically — is recognizably Annibale's and only makes full sense when accompanied by the complementary Polyphemus, leaning amorously forward from his rock. Galatea turns her head and pauses in her passage over the sea, a figure of lyrical elegance, delicately and yet keenly modelled in piquant contrast to Van Clève's statue. She is one of the first of those feminine nudes which discriminating collectors sought from Le Lorrain, and which seem often to include similar marine classic associations. ## Related artworks - [Bust of Apollo]() - [Bust of Thetis]() - [Group of Children]() - [The Horses of the Sun]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()