The young Hebe is seated between the half-spread wings of Zeus, who has transformed into an eagle. With one hand she strokes the bird’s head, while with the other she holds the cup—the symbol of her role as cupbearer to the gods of Olympus. As the daughter of Zeus and Hera, Hebe was responsible for pouring the nectar and ambrosia that ensured their immortality.

The eagle maintains a protective stance. The interplay of glances and smiles between the two figures suggests both complicity and sensuality. Jules Franceschi depicts the moment when the goddess gives drink to Zeus, who becomes intoxicated before departing to abduct Ganymede, the young adolescent with whom he is in love. Following this abduction, Ganymede would replace Hebe as the cupbearer to the gods. Personifying eternal youth, Hebe is often depicted as a gentle girl on the threshold of adulthood. Her name thus evokes beauty, grace, and youthful freshness. This theme was particularly favored by 19th-century sculptors, as it allowed them to contrast the slender and vulnerable female body with the power and strength of the eagle.

Born in Bar-sur-Aube, Jules Franceschi began his career in Paris as a decorator for buildings. He later trained in François Rude’s studio for ten years. This work is a tribute to his master, who had created a Hebe in 1855 for the city of Dijon. Carved from Carrara marble, Franceschi’s sculpture is characterized by the contrast between the highly polished body and the finely detailed treatment of the goddess’s hair and the eagle’s feathers.