A French Oval Marble Relief of Leda and the Swan, School of Fontainebleau, Mid 16th Century

the naked figure of Leda surrounded by billowing drapery, embracing  the Swan between her legs, an owl sitting atop a decorative urn, an eagle flying above suspending two hatched eggs with Castor and Pollux, Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, Neptune on the far right.

Collection of Thomas Mansell Talbot of Margam, probably in the account books of 1772

Daniel Katz, Ltd., London

J. Auersperg, Daniel Katz. European Sculpture (exh.cat.), London, 1996, no.11, pp.28 and 29

Small restoration to the tongue and part of lower beak of swan. Two restored breaks at upper curve of neck and one at lower curve. Restoration to two fingers on her left hand. Overall general standard wear. Some surface abrasion and minor chipping throughout. Otherwise very good overall condition.
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RELATED LITERATURE

L'ècole de Fontainebleau (exh.cat.), Grand Palais, Paris, 1972-3

The figure of Leda in the present relief recalls the work of several artists belonging to the so-called School of Fontainebleau. This 'school' began at the behest of  François I who was undertaking an extensive decorative program for his Château de Fontainebleau, built within a former royal hunting park.

In 1531, the Florentine artist  Rosso Fiorentino was invited to France by the King and soon began the massive decorative program of the interior of the palace. France was then introduced to the Italian Mannerist style. In the following years, the artist was joined by Francesco Primaticcio and much later Niccolò dell'Abbate. The decoration was infused with allegorical and mythological iconography and elongated and undulating forms.

The Fontainbleau ideal of female beauty was Mannerist: a small head on a long neck, exaggeratedly long torso and limbs, small high breasts, all of which are seen clearly in the present relief.  Famous sculptural images of the recumbent female nude were known in France during the first half of the 16th century and include: Cellini's Nymph of Fontainebleau, the figures on his salt for François I (now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna), and the Diane from the Chateau d'Anet (now preserved in the Musée du Louvre).  During the 16th century, the new works at Fontainebleau were recorded in detailed engravings that circulated among connoisseurs and artists, and this new style was transmitted throughout Europe.

Few sculptures from this period have survived making it challenging to ascribe this relief to a particular artist but it is evident that this elegant relief incorporates all of the stylistic and iconographical characteristics of the Fontainebleau style.

Classical Greek mythology tells how Leda was loved by Jupiter, how he came to her by the river in the form of a swan and lay with her. This union produced two eggs from which were hatched twins, Castor and Pollux and Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra.