The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-28 00:00:00

Statue of the Emperor Napoleon I.

The Moniteur has the following on the statue of
the Place Vendome :—" A modification which
is a
t willthis
be viewed with satisfaction by all artists
moment in course of execution at the column of the
.Place Vendome. The present statue of the Em-
peror Napoleon I. is to be replaced by one similar
to that which was fixed on the column under the
first Empire. It is well known that the Emperor,
wishing to perpetuate the memory of the glorious
campaign terminated by the battle of Austerlitz,
ordered the erection of a column with the bronze
of the cannon taken from the enemy. This monu-
ment, begun in 1806 and terminated in 1810, was
surmounted by a statue of Napoleon I. in heroic
costume, in conformity with traditional usage.
This statue, the work of the sculptor
Chaudet, was taken down in 1814, and afterwards
melted to cast the statue of Henry IV., now on
the Pont-Neuf. A Royal ordonnance of the Bth of
April, 1831, ordered the restoration of the Imperial
statue only ; instead of preserving the original cos-
tume the Emperor was represented in the dress be
usually wore when with the army. This new statue
was placed on the column in 1833. Since that date
the change made in the costume has been much
criticised. It must not be forgotten that this occa-
sion was a kind of apotheosis, and that, if it is
allowable to give the statues which commonly de-
corate our public places the costumes habitually
worn by the men they represent. it cannot be the
same with statues intended to surmount a triumphal
column. The ancients were well aware of this,
as shown by Trojan's column, of which the
column in the Place Vendome is an imitation. The
Emperor Napoleon 111., faithful to the reminis-
cences of the First Empire, wished that the effigy
of the founder of the dynasty should be re-estab•
!idled on conditions in conformity with tradition.
The new statue, confided to the talent of M. Dumont,
member of the Institute, and cast by
Tbiebault,
is completed, and will be shortly put in its place. It
holds in one of its hands the same winged Victory
as the statue had in 1810, and which has been pre-
served, and the beauty of its lines will harmonise
with those of the column. At the sametimethat '
the Emperor ordered this change, be comprehended
that the present statue, consecrated by thirty
years, and representing the military costume
so well known throughout the whole word,
ought to remain before the eyes of the people and of
the army ; and he ordered that a pedestal should be
erected for it at the Road-Point of Courbevoie, at
the corner of the Avenue de Ne,_rui.lolyra.phle'hdies placeu_jtoiiies
admirably chosen fur such a monument. The
ground, which from the Arc de r
declines towards the Seine, again rises on the other
side of the river, and offers a rond-point which takes
the name of Cuurbevoie, and from which several
avenues branch off. It 'Ls thein middle
under
g andu
r of
thistheer
pace that the pedestal is beingbuilt,
The
direction of M. Duban, the architect.
and simplicity of the
beauty of the granite usnledon inum
itesuct,onass truet
form a worthy welli ason willthe
Support to the statue of the great
man,"