Angola gives two 18th century French masterpieces to Chateau of Versailles

The marble trio of Zéphyr, Flore et l’Amour (left), and l’Abondance have been returned to France by Angola. © Christophe Fouin / Château de Versailles

Two 18th century French sculptures commissioned by kings Louis XIV and Louis XV, which had been lost for decades, have returned to their place of origin thanks to Angola.

Zephyr, Flore et l'Amour – by artists Philippe Bertrand, René Firmin and Jacques Rousseau – was commissioned by Louis XIV for the gardens of the Grand Trianon. While Louis XV commissioned Abondance, a major work sculpted by Lambert Sigisbert Adam between 1753 and 1758, for his residence in Choisy.