Born in Paris in 1705, René-Michel Slodtz was the son of the sculptor Sébastien Slodtz. He received his early training in his father's workshop before traveling to Rome, where he spent over a decade studying and refining his craft. This period in Italy was instrumental in shaping his mastery of the late Baroque aesthetic.

Upon returning to France, Slodtz became a key figure in the production of courtly art, working extensively for the Menus-Plaisirs du Roi, the department responsible for royal ceremonies and festivities. His work encompassed both monumental sculpture and decorative arts, reflecting the ornate and dramatic sensibilities of the mid-18th century.