François Girardon, a celebrated French sculptor, born in 1628, died in
1715 (the same year as his patron and employer, Louis XIV.).
From 1652 until his retirement in extreme old age he was employed,
first in conjunction with Le Brun, and afterwards singly in directing
the art work undertaken in Paris and at Versailles by Louis XIV.
His greatest achievements were considered to be the _Bain
d’Apollon_, the “Rape of Proserpine” at Versailles and the
equestrian statue of Louis XIV., which, before its destruction during
the Revolution, occupied the centre of the Place Vendôme.