Monument à Jeanne d’Arc blessée à la bataille de Jargeau
MonumentHidden Treasure
Monument à Jeanne d’Arc blessée à la bataille de Jargeau, located in Jargeau (Loiret), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Jargeau, Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.8672, 2.1222
- Mérimée Reference
- PA45000062
In the heart of Jargeau, this bronze by Alfred Lanson captures Joan of Arc in her moment of supreme bravery: wounded but unshaken, standard in hand, crossing the breach to victory.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
Standing on its marble base in the town of Jargeau, in the Loiret region of France, this bronze statue is one of the most intense and least known sculptural testimonies to the Johannine cycle. Where other representations of Joan of Arc show her triumphant on horseback or recollected in prayer, Alfred Lanson chose the most human and dramatic moment: the one when La Pucelle, hit in the head by a projectile during the assault on the ramparts of Jargeau on 12 June 1429, stands up and rises again towards the breach, standard unfurled. This narrative choice is what makes the work so unique. The work was cast by Barbedienne, one of the most renowned foundries in 19th-century France, responsible for numerous large-scale editions of monumental sculptures. The quality of the casting, the precision with which the drapery is rendered and the expressiveness of the face bear witness to an exceptional level of expertise, which can be seen in the masterpieces in the French national museums. A visit to this monument is both a historical and artistic experience. Installed in a public space in Jargeau, it invites contemplation while recalling the decisive role played by this battle in the reconquest campaign led by Joan of Arc and the Duke of Alençon. The viewer is gripped by the energy contained in the bronze: the forward movement, the hand held to the wound, the banner held high - all combine to make the tension of the battle palpable. Jargeau itself, a small Loire town on the outskirts of Orléans, offers a pleasant heritage setting, bathed in the light of the Loire Valley. For fans of the Johannine epic, this monument is a must-see stop on the tour linking Orléans, Jargeau, Meung-sur-Loire and Beaugency, the milestones of the "Loire Week" during which Joan of Arc swept the English from the south bank of the river in June 1429.
Architecture
The work comprises two distinct elements: the bronze statue and its marble base. The bronze, cast by Barbedienne using the sand or lost wax casting techniques in use in the 19th century, depicts Joan of Arc standing, slightly taller than natural, in a forward tilting movement. The left hand is held to the head, evoking the wound received in battle, while the right hand holds up the standard, a symbol of command and faith. The drapes of the coat of mail and surcoat are treated with meticulous realism, characteristic of the academic style of French sculpture in the last quarter of the 19th century. The marble base, commissioned from a marble mason in Calvados, takes the sober, classical form of a pedestal with a rectangular base, in keeping with the monumental style of the period. Its height gives the statue optimum visibility from the surrounding public space. The commemorative inscription engraved in the marble recalls the date and context of the battle, anchoring the monument definitively in its memorial vocation. The ensemble is part of the trend towards republican commemorative sculpture of the Third Republic, characterised by narrative realism, a taste for historical detail and the promotion of popular heroism. Unlike equestrian representations of Joan of Arc (such as Frémiet's Place des Pyramides in Paris), Lanson opted for a pedestrian figure, more accessible and more dramatically human.
Related Figures
Jeanne d'Arc — héroïne représentée, blessée lors de l'assaut de Jargeau le 12 juin 1429Alfred Lanson — sculpteur orléanais, auteur de la statue, présentée au Salon de 1895Ferdinand Barbedienne — fondeur parisien dont la maison a réalisé la fonte en bronzeJean II d'Alençon — commandant des forces françaises lors de la bataille de Jargeau aux côtés de JeanneWilliam de la Pole, comte de Suffolk — commandant anglais défait à Jargeau et fait prisonnier
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Monument à Jeanne d’Arc blessée à la bataille de Jargeau located?
Monument à Jeanne d’Arc blessée à la bataille de Jargeau is located in Jargeau, Loiret department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Monument à Jeanne d’Arc blessée à la bataille de Jargeau built?
Monument à Jeanne d’Arc blessée à la bataille de Jargeau dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Monument à Jeanne d’Arc blessée à la bataille de Jargeau open to visitors?
Monument à Jeanne d’Arc blessée à la bataille de Jargeau is currently closed to visitors.