Jean-Baptiste Tuby (also known as ''Le Romain'' - born in Rome in 1635, died in Paris 9 August 1700) was a French sculptor of Italian origins, best known for the sculpture in the fountains of the Gardens of Versailles. His work expresses the exuberance of the Baroque blended with the classicism of the

Louis XIV style The Louis XIV style or ''Louis Quatorze'' ( , ), also called French classicism, was the style of architecture and decorative arts intended to glorify King Louis XIV and his reign. It featured majesty, harmony and regularity. It became the officia ...

.''Petit Robert'' (2010)

Life

Tuby was born Giambattista Tubi in Rome in 1635, and first trained as a sculptor in Italy, before coming to France sometime after 1660. He was first engaged by the Gobelins Manufactory, headed by

Charles Le Brun Charles Le Brun (baptised 24 February 1619 – 12 February 1690) was a French painter, physiognomist, art theorist, and a director of several art schools of his time. As court painter to Louis XIV, who declared him "the greatest French artist of ...

, the chief artist for the King. In 1664–65, he was employed making sculptures for the grottoes and terraces of the Chateau of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.BnF, Manuscrits, Mélanges Colbert 311, f. 160-183v 7 septembre 1664. A Baptiste, sculpteur, à compte des ouvrages qu’il fait à la façade des terrasses de Saint Germain : 200 l. 14 octobre 1664. This led to major projects for the fountains and gardens of the Palace of Versailles, including the gilded lead sculpture of Apollo and his chariot for the Basin of Apollo (1668-71), the statues of the Rivers Saône and Rhone for the central basin (1683) and the statue of Flore. He also made a monumental statue of Peace and a large carved marble vase for the courtyard, and several other statues on mythological themes for the bouquets, or enclosed gardens, in the park. Le Rhône, La Saône, bronzes (1685-1688) Le vase de la paix, marbre (1685-1686). In addition to his work at Versailles, he collaborated on several projects with sculptor

Antoine Coysevox Charles Antoine Coysevox ( or ; 29 September 164010 October 1720), was a French sculptor in the Baroque and Louis XIV style, best known for his sculpture decorating the gardens and Palace of Versailles and his portrait busts. Biography Coysevo ...

, making a Pieta for the sepulcher of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, now in the Church of Saint-Eustache in Paris, and a bronze statue of ''Peace'' at the foot of the funeral monument to

Cardinal Mazarin Cardinal Jules Mazarin (, also , , ; 14 July 1602 – 9 March 1661), born Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino () or Mazarini, was an Italian cardinal, diplomat and politician who served as the chief minister to the Kings of France Louis XIII and Louis X ...

, in the

Collège des Quatre-Nations The Collège des Quatre-Nations ("College of the Four Nations"), also known as the Collège Mazarin after its founder, was one of the colleges of the historic University of Paris. It was founded through a bequest by the Cardinal Mazarin. At his d ...

(now the

Institut de France The (; ) is a French learned society, grouping five , including the Académie Française. It was established in 1795 at the direction of the National Convention. Located on the Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the institute ...

). He also worked on the group of figures around the funeral monument to Marshal

Turenne Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne (11 September 161127 July 1675), commonly known as Turenne , was a French general and one of only six Marshals to have been promoted Marshal General of France. The most illustrious member of the ...

, originally in the

Basilica of Saint-Denis The Basilica of Saint-Denis (french: Basilique royale de Saint-Denis, links=no, now formally known as the ) is a large former medieval abbey church and present cathedral in the commune of Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris. The building ...

, now at near the tomb of Napoleon at Les Invalides. He was naturalized as a French citizen in 1672, and married the niece of Le Brun. Under Le Bruns's sponsorship he entered the new

Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a c ...

in 1676.

Sculpture

File:Le Rhône by Jean-Baptiste Tuby.jpg, The Rhone (1685-1688) File:Parc de Versailles, Bassin de Flore, Jean-Baptiste Tuby (1672-79) 07.jpg, Bassin de Flore (1672-79 Image:Versailles Fontaine Apollon Char du Soleil (2).jpg, Fountain of Apollo (1668-1671) File:Bassin d'Apollon de Versailles.jpg, Engraving of Apollo and his Chariot in 1683 File:Versailles - vasque et façade.jpg, The Vase of Peace (1685-1686). File:A sculpture at the entrance to the palace of Versailles.jpg, ''La Paix'' (Peace) (1685-86) File:Parc de Versailles, Bosquet des Dômes, Galatée, Jean-Baptiste Tuby 03.jpg, Galatée, Bosquet des Dômes (1667-75) File:Parc de Versailles, Bosquet des Dômes, Acis, Jean-Baptiste Tuby 03.jpg, Acis playing his flute, Bosquet des Dômes (1667-75)

Other sculpture

Paris - Les Invalides - Tombeau de Turenne - 001.jpg, Funeral monument of Turenne at Les Invalides File:Colbert tomb at St-Eustache 2011-03.jpg, Secondary figures around tomb of Colbert, Church of St. Eustache (1685) File:Cardinal mazarin tomb.jpg, Secondary figures around tomb of

, Institute of France File:La Fidelité.jpg, Statue of Fidelity for the tomb of Cardinal Mazarin, Institute of France File:Diana with a Stag and a Dog LACMA M.78.77.jpg, Diana with a stag and a dog, terra cotta,

Los Angeles County Museum of Art The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is an art museum located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. LACMA is on Museum Row, adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits (George C. Page Museum). LACMA was founded in 19 ...

(1687)

Notes and Citations

Bibliography

* Geese, Uwe, Section on Baroque sculpture in ''L'Art Baroque - Architecture - Sculpture - Peinture'' (French translation from German), H.F. Ulmann, Cologne, 2015. () * ''Le Petit Robert des Noms Propres'', Paris (2010), ()

External links

* Tuby's bronze Fountain of Apollo at Versailles * Tuby's marble Vase of Peace at Versaille

* Tuby's bronze figure, The Rhone, Parterre d'Eau at Versaille

* Tuby's bronze figure, The Saon, Parterre d'Eau at Versaille

* Site on Tuby at the National Library of France (in French
data BnF : Jean-Baptiste Tuby (1635-1700)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuby, Jean-Baptiste French sculptors French male sculptors 1635 births 1700 deaths