Listen closely. Here stands La Zingara, a bronze statue with a captivating history. La Zingara embodies the spirit of a bohemian dancer. The statue captures a young woman dressed in a tunic. Her attire includes excessive drapery and many jewels. She dances to the rhythm of a tambourine. La Zingara holds the tambourine in her left hand.
La Zingara was created by Auguste Clésinger. He was a renowned French sculptor and painter. Clésinger crafted a plaster model of La Zingara in 1858. It was presented at the Salon of 1859. Clésinger’s artistic journey began under his father’s tutelage. His father was the sculptor Georges Clésinger. At 18, Auguste studied sculpting in Rome. There he learned from Thorwaldsen. Returning to Paris in 1838, he continued his studies. He joined the workshop of sculptor David d’Angers.
Clésinger’s talent earned him recognition. In 1846, he received a third-class medal. The following year, a second-class medal followed. This was for his sculpture “Femme piquée par le serpent”. In 1848, he won a first-class medal for “Bacchante couchée”. He was decorated with the Légion d’Honneur in 1849. Clésinger signed an exclusivity contract. He worked with the Barbedienne foundry. They produced bronze reductions of some of his sculptures. These included La Zingara.
The Barbedienne foundry played a crucial role. They cast La Zingara in bronze. The statue bears an inscription. It says, “J. Clesinger/Rome. 1858”. Another inscription appears on the terrace. It reads, “F. Barbedienne Fondeur”. A similar model of La Zingara is in the Musée d’Orsay. Our statue also bears an inscription. It says, “Souvenir of the workers, to Mr Auguste Desgenetais 4 september 1869”.
Auguste Desgenetais was a prominent figure. He led a cotton factory in Bolbec, Normandy. The factory significantly expanded in the 1870s. By the time of his death, it employed 800 workers. In the 1960s, the factory was renamed Comptoir industriel du Coton. A fire destroyed the main building in 1997. However, the director’s house remains.
Consider the journey of La Zingara. It was part of the Alfred Chauchard collection until 1909. In 1910, the state accepted it as a bequest from Chauchard. It was then assigned to the Musée du Louvre in Paris. Since 1934, La Zingara has been deposited at the Musée Salies in Bagnères-de-Bigorre. In 1986, it was assigned to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
La Zingara is more than a statue. It is a symbol of artistic expression. It embodies the passion and freedom of the bohemian spirit. La Zingara continues to inspire. It reminds us of the rich cultural heritage of Paris.