PARIS: assorted sculpture publicly sited
| Artist: | Chalgrin, Jean François Thérèse (and others) |
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|---|---|---|
| TitleOfWork: | Arc de Triomphe, Place Charles de Gaulle Etoile | |
| DateOfWork: | 1806-35 | |
| Dimensions: | 49 m high, 45 m wide & 22 m deep | |
| Medium: | ||
| Location: | Place de l'Étoile, Paris | |
| Country: | France | |
| Photographer: | Giles Barker | |
| ImageCopyright: | Estate of Giles Barker | |
| AccessionNumber: | 93~3299 | |
| FileSize: | 165717 | |
| L'Arc de Triomphe is located in the centre of the Place de l'Étoile in Paris. The original architect was Jean Chalgrin: when he died work was carried on by Joust from 1811-1814 when work halted, and then by Guillaume Abel Blouet (1795-1853) from 1833-1836. The arch was commissioned by Napoleon I as a monument built to the glory of the French army. Work halted when Napoleon's Emoire was defeated in 1814, but began again in 1833, the Arch being inaugurated on 30th July 1836. Inner walls contain the names of 386 generals in Napoleon’s armies and ninety-six of his triumphs. Sculptors who worked on the monument include Cortot, Rude, Etex, Pradier and Lemaire. The best known of their work is probably "le départ des Volontaires de 1792" by François Rude. The Arc de Triomphe is considered the national war memorial of France. On November 11th 1920, the body of an unknown soldier was buried under the Arc de Triomphe. He symbolises the one and a half million soldiers who died on the field during World War I. Since 1923, the Flame of Remembrance on the tomb of the unknown soldier has been symbolically rekindled everyday at 6pm by war veterans and soldiers. Bequeathed to SHU by estate of Giles Barker in 1993 | ||
