Monument à Jeanne d’Arc
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Monument à Jeanne d’Arc, located in Chinon (Indre-et-Loire), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Chinon, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.1653, 0.2458
- Mérimée Reference
- PA37000049
Bronze equestrian statue donated by sculptor Jules Roulleau, erected in 1893 on the very spot where Joan of Arc practised her quintaine, in Chinon's Saint-Mexme meadow.
© Wikimedia Commons / Wikipedia
History
Since 1893, an imposing bronze equestrian statue has stood in the heart of Chinon, a town intimately linked with the destiny of Joan of Arc, paying tribute to the Pucelle d'Orléans in one of the most charged places in her history. Installed in the Saint-Mexme meadow, on the very spot where the young warrior is said to have practised her quintaine before meeting the Dauphin Charles at the nearby château, the statue offers a rare historical resonance: to contemplate this bronze is to stand on the very ground that Joan of Arc herself is said to have trodden in 1429. The statue, the work of sculptor Jules Roulleau, stands out for its monumental character and expressive vigour. Presented at the Paris Salon in 1892, it was immediately admired by the public and critics alike. The artist donated his work to the town of Chinon, bearing witness to a generosity uncommon in the annals of nineteenth-century French public sculpture. For anyone familiar with the history of Chinon, the experience of visiting the site is a striking one. The monument is set in a gentle Loire landscape, between the tranquil waters of the Vienne and the rocky promontory crowned by the royal fortress where Joan of Arc met Charles VII. The equestrian figure of La Pucelle, bent over in the momentum of her ride, still seems to be driven by an urgent mission. The stone base, designed in the monumental sobriety typical of civic commissions during the Third Republic, firmly anchors the statue in its environment. Around the monument, the Saint-Mexme district retains a medieval atmosphere that walkers enjoy in all seasons. Photographers, families and history buffs all come here to meet one of the most famous figures in French history, in a setting that has hardly changed since its lavish inauguration in 1893.
Architecture
The monument is made up of two distinct elements that are closely linked: the bronze equestrian statue by Jules Roulleau and its ashlar pedestal, designed by the local architect Favreau. The whole adopts the formal grammar of the civic monuments of the Third Republic, characterised by an assertive verticality, ornamental sobriety and a desire for immediate legibility from the public space. The equestrian statue, the centrepiece of the ensemble, depicts Joan of Arc on horseback in a resolute, martial pose, faithful to the heroic iconography in vogue in academic sculpture at the end of the 19th century. The treatment of the bronze reveals Roulleau's skill: the muscularity of the horse, the flutter of the armour, the dynamism of the composition all testify to technical mastery and a keen sense of movement. Its monumental dimensions - which made it so difficult to transport from Paris - give it an imposing physical presence, designed to dominate the space of the Saint-Mexme meadow and interact with the castle above. The stone pedestal rises up on several levels, set back slightly from one another, in a classic pyramidal composition that magnifies the bronze silhouette. Its relative sobriety allows the statue to fully occupy the visitor's attention, while providing it with a solid anchor in the Chinon landscape. Commemorative inscriptions recall the identity of the person represented and the nature of the tribute paid, in accordance with the republican monumental custom of the time.
Related Figures
Jeanne d'Arc (vers 1412-1431) — héroïne nationale honorée par le monument, qui s'exerça à la quintaine en ce lieu avant sa rencontre avec Charles VII à Chinon en 1429Jules Roulleau — sculpteur, auteur de la statue équestre présentée au Salon de 1892 et offerte à la ville de ChinonHenri Deglane — architecte parisien qui établit le premier devis du piédestal, collaborateur habituel de RoulleauM. Favreau — architecte communal de Chinon, chargé de l'exécution effective du piédestalFrançois Coppée (1842-1908) — poète de l'Académie française, vice-président du comité d'érection du monumentFélix Faure (1841-1899) — vice-président de la Chambre des députés lors de l'inauguration, futur président de la République, membre du comitéHenri Rieunier (1833-1918) — amiral et ministre de la Marine, président de la cérémonie d'inauguration des 12 et 13 août 1893M. Joubert — ancien député de l'arrondissement de Chinon, ami intime de Jules Roulleau et intermédiaire de la donation
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Monument à Jeanne d’Arc located?
Monument à Jeanne d’Arc is located in Chinon, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
Is Monument à Jeanne d’Arc open to visitors?
Monument à Jeanne d’Arc is currently closed to visitors.