Public Art #8

Paris has a lot of public art.  One category of public art in Paris is the statue depicting an important person.  

On or near the Champs-Élysées are three statues honoring important persons of the last century.  

The most prominent statue is bronze likeness of the very tall Charles de Gaulle.  The sculpture captures the day when de Gaulle strode down the Champs-Élysées following the liberation of Paris in 1944.  

General Charles de Gaulle by Jean Cardot (2000)

Here is a a famous photo of de Gaulle from that day in 1944.

Nearby is a statue from 1932 dedicated to Georges Clemenceau, France's Prime Minister during WWI.  Clemenceau was nicknamed Père la Victoire (Father Victory) and Le Tigre (The Tiger).

A short distance from de Gaulle and Clemenceau is a statue dedicated to Winston Churchill.

The three statues above share an important trait.  Each figure is striding confidently forward.

In case you missed it, two of the statues were executed by the same sculpture, Jean Cardot. 

Another statue by Jean Cardot can be found on the other side of the Seine.

Marie-Chantal and Mr. Jefferson strike the same pose.

Marie-Chantal is fond of Thomas Jefferson.  She is a graduate of Mr. Jefferson's "academical village", the University of Virginia.  (In fact, she was in the third graduating class that included women.)

Jefferson has a strong connection to Paris.  He lived here for five years following the American Revolution and was Minister to France during part of that time.  Jefferson lived on the Champs-Élysées.  A plaque marks the location of his former residence.    

Today, the site is home to a WeWork location.  No joke.

Thanks for viewing more public art with us.