Explore the Background and sculpture of this artwork.
Duquesnoy's completion of ancient sculptures was acclaimed by his contemporaries as 'absolutely perfect'. Another notable example of his work is his Rondanini Faun. Antique statues were often permeated with the Baroque style by the contemporary artist who carried out the work in the 17th century.
In the case of the Adonis, completed, as the Rondanini Faun, from an ancient torso, the graceful tilt of the subject is reminiscent of Duquesnoy's Mercury, which showcases both Duquesnoy's "Greek" vision and the Baroque influence of his day. The statue of the Adonis is an original composition by Duquesnoy, bearing his signature. Indeed, according to the Comité français d'histoire de l'art, the opus "must be accepted as a veritable artistic creation [of Duquesnoy]."The statue is also known as Adonis Mazarin, because once it was part of the collection of Cardinal Mazarin. The statue became then part of Marquis de La Meilleraye, Duc de Mazarin's collection. The latter mutilated the sculpture in a fit of madness in the late 17th century.
Rondanini Faun Mercury Cardinal Mazarin Adonis