“Disappointed Hope” echoes in this bronze statue. It stands before you as L’Espérance Déçue.
This L’Espérance statue captures a moment of profound despair. L’Espérance stands with arms crossed under her chest. Her head lowers in defeat. She wears an antique tunic. The statue represents Didon. She was the founder and queen of Carthage.
Didon’s story is one of love and loss. She fell for Enée. But he abandoned her under Jupiter’s orders. Overwhelmed by despair, she took her own life.
Auguste-Marie Barreau created this poignant depiction. His signature appears in hollow letters on the base. The base also bears inscriptions. They read “Medal of gold at the exhibition of Fine Arts 1865” and “Bought by the State”.
This L’Espérance statue dates back to the 19th century around 1870. It measures 44.5 cm in height. Its width is 13.5 cm. The depth is 11.5 cm. Today, it is in very good condition.
Another L’Espérance statue resides in the Louvre. It is in the Department of Sculptures of the Middle Ages. You can find it in the Renaissance and Modern Times section. More precisely it is located in Room 225 of the Richelieu wing on Level 0. This L’Espérance statue is made of marble. Paul Lemoyne created it in Rome in 1826. His signature can be found on the rock to the right.
The state acquired Lemoyne’s L’Espérance statue on June 3 1828. It entered the Louvre on April 18 1830. It was moved to the Palais du Luxembourg shortly after. The statue returned to the Louvre on May 14 1984.
Yet another L’Espérance statue has a connection to the church Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois. This L’Espérance is a marble statue measuring 0.46 meters in height. Its width is 0.165 meters and its depth is 0.1 meters. It dates back to the 16th century. The statue was part of a tomb. Étienne de Ponchier commissioned it. He was the brother of the deceased Louis de Ponchier. Louis was an archbishop. Charles Percier drew the tomb’s original layout.
The creation involved multiple contracts. One contract was between the sculptor and Jean Binet. Jean Binet was acting on behalf of Étienne Ponchier. Another contract involved two sculptors in Tours. After its completion vestiges of the tomb entered the depot of the Petits-Augustins. Later it was displayed at the Musée des Monuments français. The statue was attributed to the Louvre in 1866. Today, you can see it in the Richelieu wing. It is located on Level 0 in Room 211.
These L’Espérance statues capture different facets of hope. Each statue tells a story of love loss or faith. They invite us to reflect on our own hopes and dreams. They also remind us of the human capacity to endure even in the face of disappointment.