Industrial · Monuments

Equestrian Statue of Joan of Arc

Emmanuel Frémiet Paris

The equestrian statue of Joan of Arc is a monument and sculpture created by French sculptor Emmanuel Frémiet. It was inaugurated in 1874 at Place des Pyramides in Paris, France. Commissioned by the French government after the defeat in the Franco-German War of 1870, the work presents Joan of Arc on a powerful draft horse. The statue was installed and inaugurated in the same year. Its pedestal was designed by architect Paul Abadie, and a grille created by Gabriel Davioud was added to protect it.

The monument received mixed reactions. It was criticized for the large proportions of the horse, which were seen as obscuring the frail young girl, but it was also positively reviewed by art critic Paul Mantz in Le Temps, who described it as one of the most original figures of its time and a high-value work that did not require correction. Frémiet later executed a new version of the statue in 1889 for the city of Nancy. The monument has been classified as a historic monument.

Map showing the location of Equestrian Statue of Joan of Arc in Paris
Location of Equestrian Statue of Joan of Arc in Paris

Nearby Objects

Equestrian Statue by Emmanuel Fremiet

The equestrian statue of Jeanne d'Arc is a work by the French sculptor Emmanuel Fremiet. It was inaugurated in 1874 and is located at Place des Pyramides in Paris, France. As a public monument, it forms part of the urban landscape of the area and is identified with the figure of Joan of Arc through its mounted composition.

Design and Reception of the Joan of Arc Statue

The equestrian statue of Joan of Arc in Place des Pyramides was created by Frémiet as a monument commissioned by the French government after the defeat in the Franco-German War of 1870. It places Joan of Arc on a powerful draft horse, presenting her as somewhat frail on a large workhorse and contrasting the youth of the fighter with the rustic mount she rides. The monument was installed and inaugurated in the same year. Its pedestal was designed by architect Paul Abadie, and a grille made by Gabriel Davioud was added to protect the pedestal. The statue drew criticism for the large proportions of the horse, which seemed to obscure the frail young girl, but it also received a positive review from the art critic Paul Mantz in Le Temps. Mantz described it as one of the most original figures of its time, and the work was also regarded as a high-value piece that did not require correction. Frémiet later executed a new version of the statue in 1889 for the city of Nancy. The monument has been classified as a historic monument since the classification date.

Political Gatherings and Cultural Appearances

The equestrian statue of Joan of Arc at Place des Pyramides has long served as a site for political gatherings. According to Posterie, the annual Front national event honoring Jeanne d Arc meets at the statue, and since the 2010s Jean-Marie Le Pen and followers have held a separate gathering there. Posterie traces this tradition to far-right leagues of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Union nationale organized the first demonstration at the statue in 1894, and Action francaise also took part in demonstrations there. In 1907 and 1908, the Ligue de la Rose-Blanche placed white roses and lilies at the statue. The monument has also appeared in cultural works: it was targeted by young terrorists in Bertrand Bonello's film Nocturama, where its destruction was created as a digital special effect, and it was used as a set in Simon Stone's 2019 production of La traviata at the Opera Garnier.