In addition to Italy, the Baroque movement also made it ways to France, where it materialized as lavish architecture and action-packed sculpture. One site that features both of these examples is the Palace of Versailles, a grandiose estate located just outside of Paris. As the royal family’s official residence from 1682 until the French Revolution, the palace saw several over-the-top additions, including the Apollo Fountain, a theatrical fixture designed by Charles Brun for Louis XIV, the “Sun King,” in 1671. Capturing both the dynamism and drama of the period, this bronze fountain tells the story of the Greek god Apollo through the use of twisted figures, swirling silhouettes, and flowing drapery.
