The Composer André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry (1741–1813) 1804 - 1808

Jean-Baptiste Stouf's marble sculpture represents the composer André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, and its strength lies in the dynamic interplay between stillness and movement. The eye is immediately drawn to the cascading folds of the composer’s robe. The sculpture uses a pyramidal composition, giving it stability, yet Stouf disrupts this classical form through the implied motion in Grétry's posture, creating a sense of transition. The texture of the marble simulates the softness and fluidity of fabric, contrasting with the solid form of the pillar on which Grétry rests. The books at his feet, rendered with subtle detail, act as symbolic anchors connecting him to his intellectual and artistic achievements. Stouf’s manipulation of texture and form invites us to consider how the static medium of sculpture can evoke the ephemeral nature of music and the dynamic character of its creator. This tension encapsulates art's ongoing dialogue with time, representation, and identity.