Shape Number: 436
After Charles Francis Fuller, the nude beauty reclining as an eagle makes off with one of her shoes, on a bed of reeds. 43cm long, 14cm high.
It was modelled after a marble original belonging to the Earl of Sligo which was shown at the 1862 London International Exhibition. It was conceived as a companion to Europa, also after Fuller, shape 438.
Rhodope, a Greek courtesan, was one day bathing when an eagle carried away one of her sandals and dropped it in the lap of Psammetichus, King of Egypt. The monarch was so struck with the beauty of the sandal that he had a search made for the owner whom he married.
Charles Francis Fuller (1830-1875), born in England, after a brief spell in the army went to Florence and studied under the American sculptor Hiram Powers, but soon established his own studio in Florence. Exhibited his work at the RA between 1859 and 1875.
The shape photo is from The Minton Archive.