Wanderings of a terracotta in the gardens of the Château de Chantilly (Oise, France) Bearded Jupiter, after Michel Anguier (1612-1686)

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The Musée Condé in Chantilly has a large-scale terracotta sculpture of Jupiter, after Michel Anguier (1612-1686), classified as a historic monument. Restored in 2012 after being damaged by a falling tree, it has been listed in the inventories since June 1822 in the castle park, first at the end of Enghien terrace and then in Sylvie park. It could be identified with the "10-foot terracotta Neptune" preserved in the 18th century in the vertugadin of the Menagerie (Picouleau, 2021). To test this hypothesis, a luminescence dating was requested.As the sculpture is large and executed in two parts, it was not possible to move it in our laboratory, so it was decided to take the sample on site, in a room on the ground floor where it could be easily darkened (doors, shutters, etc.). During the same mission, dose rate measurements were made in different locations that have potentially hosted this artwork since the 18th century. The average annual dose rate was estimated at 130 (13) mGy/a.We carried out measurements by optically stimulated blue luminescence (BL-OSL), as well as by thermoluminescence (TL). We did not observe any infrared emission. The date of the last heating is (with a confidence level of 67%) between 1630 AD and 1720 AD, consistent with a 17th century production. Picouleau F. (2021) La ménagerie de Chantilly (XVIe-XIXe siècles). Editions Faton, 160 p.