Treurende Pallas, afkomstig van grafmonument van Leonard Mathias van der Noot, wandfiguur, tezamen met twee putti

About this artwork

Aankoop met steun van de Stichting tot Bevordering van de Belangen van het Rijksmuseum

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Treurende Pallas*Mourning Pallas a poignant marble sculpture by Laurent Del, crafted between 1746 and 1748. This wall-mounted figure depicts the goddess Pallas Athena in sorrow, accompanied by two playful yet melancholic putti—cherubic attendants symbolizing innocence and lamentation. Carved from fine marble, the piece measures 118 cm wide, 122 cm high, and 55 cm deep, weighing a substantial 504 kg, underscoring its monumental presence. Originally part of the grand tomb monument for Leonard Mathias van der Noot, a prominent figure in 18th-century Flemish society, this work embodies the Rococo era's blend of emotional depth and graceful ornamentation. Delvaux, a master sculptor from the Southern Netherlands, drew on classical mythology to evoke themes of wisdom, valor, and eternal grief, common in Baroque-influenced funerary art. The smooth, polished marble highlights his virtuoso chisel work, capturing flowing drapery and expressive faces with lifelike tenderness. Acquired by the Rijksmuseum with support from the Stichting tot Bevordering van de Belangen van het Rijksmuseum, *Treurende Pallas* invites visitors to reflect on mortality and legacy. Its survival from a noble grave speaks to the enduring cultural reverence for such allegorical masterpieces in European collections.

About the Artist

Laurent Delvaux · 1696–1778

Comment on works: Sculptor; Religious; Portrait