Terracotta sculptuur van Hebe before 1857

Marcel Gustave Laverdet created this terracotta sculpture of Hebe, though the exact date remains unknown. Hebe, in Greek mythology, was the goddess of youth, and served as cupbearer to the gods on Mount Olympus. The image carries meaning through its visual codes. Laverdet, working within the academic tradition, looked to classical antiquity for inspiration. During this period, institutions such as the École des Beaux-Arts played a role in shaping artistic production, with an emphasis on classical ideals. The choice of terracotta as a medium, and the stylistic references to Greek sculpture, reflect the period’s obsession with antiquity. Does the artist idealize the social structures of the past? To fully appreciate such a sculpture, we need to look into the cultural and institutional contexts of its creation. We might consult historical texts on art education or examine exhibition records to understand its place in the broader art world of the time.