Saint Simon
The apostle saint Simon has been sculpted later on in life with a balding head and a long beard. Dressed in a tunic and a cloak, he is looking at the book he is holding in his left hand while his right hand is resting on a woodcutter’s saw, which was the instrument of his martyrdom.
Also named “the Zealot” because he belonged to the Jewish sect of the same name, Saint Simon is believed to have evangelised Persia with the apostle Saint Thaddeus. They were put to death at the same time after overturning idols after a discussion with pagan priests. According to certain accounts, Saint Simon was cut into pieces with a saw like the prophet Isaiah.
the sculptor Jean-Louis Lemoyne
A student of Coysevox, he was received at the Academy with a majestic bust representing Jules-Hardouin Mansart (today in the Louvre). He worked for Versailles, sculpted a Company of Diana for Marly and, for the king, created his masterpiece: La Crainte des Traits de l’Amour (Metropolitan Museum) which has an elegant and delicate style.
