Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Leda and The Swan Marble Bust

About the Item

Leda and the swan carved in white marble, Italian, Risorgimento, late 19th century. Stock Number: 33150 Leda and the Swan: A Mythological Tale Immortalised in Marble The mythology of Leda and the Swan is one of the most evocative stories from Greek mythology. It tells the tale of Zeus, the king of the gods, who, captivated by the beauty of Leda, the queen of Sparta, transforms himself into a swan to seduce her. The encounter results in Leda giving birth to two eggs, from which hatched the beautiful Helen of Troy, the cause of the Trojan War, and the Dioscuri twins, Castor and Pollux. The story of Leda and the Swan has been a popular theme in art and literature, with its inherent drama, sensuality, and the transformation of Zeus into a swan providing rich material for visual and poetic interpretation. It is a narrative that explores themes of power, seduction, and metamorphosis, often depicted with a blend of both erotic and tragic undertones. One such depiction is the present white marble carved bust of Leda and the Swan. This sculpture captures the intimate moment between Leda and the Swan with profound sensitivity and attention to detail. The swan’s wings envelop Leda in a protective and possessive embrace, its beak tenderly kissing her, creating a scene that is both sensual and serene. The figures are carved with such finesse that they appear to be caught in a moment of mutual surrender, a testament to the sculptor’s ability to convey complex emotions through stone. The choice of white marble for this sculpture is significant. Renowned for its purity and luminosity, white marble has been used throughout history to create sculptures of gods and heroes, making it a fitting material for a story involving Zeus. The smooth, polished surface of the marble enhances the sensuality of the scene, while its solidity and permanence underscore the enduring nature of the myth. The sculpture of Leda and the Swan is a powerful visual representation of a poignant moment in the tale from Greek mythology. It captures the essence of the story, the transformation, the passion, and the consequences, immortalising them in marble. The result is a piece of art that is not only visually stunning but also rich in symbolism and narrative depth.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 33.08 in (84 cm)Width: 22.84 in (58 cm)Depth: 15.75 in (40 cm)
  • Style:
    Belle Époque (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1880
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1204239953702

More From This Seller

View All
19th Century Statuary Marble Bust of the Braschi Antinous as Dionysus, Signed
Located in London, by appointment only
19th century statuary marble bust of the Braschi Antinous as Dionysus, Signed Puge 19th century statuary marble bust of Antinous as Dionysus, Sig...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Statuary Marble

Italian Marble Bust of a Girl, 18th Century
By Achille Collas
Located in London, by appointment only
Italian 18th Century Marble Bust of a Girl Late 18th century bust of a girl, in the manner of Luigi Valadier Son of Andrea Valadier, a Prove...
Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

Statuary Marble Statue of a Child Personifying Music
Located in London, by appointment only
Seated on a tree stump, a young child is playing the cymbals, carved from a single piece of statuary marble. This is for sure an impressive carving, the hands hold the cymbals with a...
Category

Antique 1860s French Belle Époque Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Statuary Marble

Grand Tour Bust of Julius Caesar, 19th Century
Located in London, by appointment only
19th Century Grand Tour statuary marble portrait bust of Julius Caesar 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC Bust of Julius Caesar Julius Caesar was a...
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

Lorenzo Bartolini Neo Classical Statuary Marble Snake Handled Tazza and Column
Located in London, by appointment only
This elegant marble urn was almost certainly made by Lorenzo Bartolini, who rose to prominence in the early 19th century as sculptor to Napoleon’s sister Elisa Baciocchi, who was Gra...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Mounted Objects

Materials

Carrara Marble

Classical Faux Marble Roundel with a Mask
Located in London, by appointment only
An extremely well-made copy of a classical mask after the antique, the face shown in high relief within a dished background and a border of Greek Key with discs to the four sides. No...
Category

20th Century Italian Classical Roman Mounted Objects

Materials

Resin

You May Also Like

Leda and the Swan Mythology Crystal Vase
Located in New York, NY
A serene pose of a swan swimming beneath the overhanging branches of a weeping willow. This is a depiction of Leda and the Swan. Leda and the Swan is a story and subject in art from Greek...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Rubin, French B. 1841 Leda And The Swan, Bronze Sculpture On Marble Plinth
By August Rubin
Located in Germantown, MD
After Auguste Eugène Rubin, French b. 1841 Leda And The Swan, Bronze Sculpture on Marble Plinth. Leda and the Swan is a story and subject in art from Greek mythology in which the g...
Category

20th Century Other Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Italian 19th Century White Carrara Marble Statue of Leda and the Swan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and extremely high quality Italian 19th century white Carrara marble statue of Leda and the swan. The statue is raised by a square base with a superb ground like design w...
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Bronze Sculpture "Leda & The Swan" Wood Base, Etienne Maurice Falconet
By Étienne Maurice Falconet
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Falconet was born to a poor family in Paris. He was at first apprenticed to a marble-cutter, but some of his clay and wood figures, with the making of which he occupied his leisure h...
Category

20th Century French Belle Époque Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Leda and the Swan Bronze sculpture by Ferd Otratovsky
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Leda and the Swan Bronze sculpture by Ferd Otratovsky. Signed and dated "FERD. OTRADOVSKY 1926" within the cast on the base. Black patinated bronze, mounte...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Kähler, Denmark, Figure in Glazed Stoneware, Leda and the Swan
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Kähler, Denmark. Figure in glazed stoneware. Leda and the swan. Beautiful crackle glaze. 1930s / 40s. Measures: 13 x 8 cm. In excellent condition. Signed.
Category

Vintage 1930s Danish Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Stoneware

Recently Viewed

View All