Versailles Male Sphinx - Versailles, France
Posted by: Metro2
N 48° 48.253 E 002° 07.168
31U E 435344 N 5406066
This is the male half of a set of sphinxes at Versailles Palace.
Waymark Code: WMCZ5Q
Location: Île-de-France, France
Date Posted: 10/29/2011
Views: 26
Located close to the entrance to the Versailles gardens, this sphinx and angel guard one of the portals...along with a female sphinx on the other side. The sphinx is carved in marble..and is depicted with an Egyptian headdress. The angel (or cherub) appears to be cast in bronze and is depicted astride (though awkwardly) the sphinx' back.
There is no information at the site about the artist, date or title...but this website (
visit link) identifies the cherub as Cupid and the artist as Jules Hardouin Mansart. Wikipedia (
visit link) identifies Mansart (1746-1808) as an architect without any mention of sculpture.
Visit Instructions:Post a picture of your GPS (time stamp), and maybe another of the statue.
Please update any changes in the status of the statue or it's surroundings.