Here stands La Girafe Sculpture. Its story is intertwined with the tale of a real giraffe that once captivated Paris. Let’s journey back to the 1820s. Imagine a time when seeing a giraffe in France was an extraordinary event. It was an era of revolution and change.
This is the story of Zarafa. She was the first giraffe to set foot in France. Her arrival sparked a wave of “giraffomania.” Zarafa came from Sudan. She was a gift to King Charles X. Muhammad Ali, the Ottoman viceroy of Egypt, sent her. He hoped to ease opposition to his suppression of the Greek uprising.
Zarafa’s journey was epic. She traveled by boat from Alexandria. The ship deck had a special hole. It allowed her to stick her head out. She landed in Marseille in October 1826. It was a sight no one had seen in over three centuries.
The giraffe’s adaptability amazed everyone. Her handlers decided she could walk to Paris. It was a journey of 550 miles. Two Sudanese caretakers Hassan and Atir accompanied her. The aging naturalist Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire also joined. She even had a custom raincoat to protect her. Crowds lined the streets. 30000 people turned out in Lyon.
In 1827 Zarafa arrived in Paris. She nibbled rose petals from the king’s hand. She settled in the Jardin des Plantes. Over 600000 visitors came to see her in six months.
La Girafe Sculpture stands as a reminder of Zarafa’s impact. The real giraffe inspired fashion. Women styled their hair high. The color “giraffe yellow” became popular. Artists drew inspiration from her. Animal sculptures rose in popularity. Caricatures of King Charles X appeared. He had a rather long neck.
However, “giraffomania” faded. The reign of Charles X ended. Zarafa lived until 1845. After her death, she was taxidermied. She is still on view at the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de La Rochelle.
The Jardin des Plantes had a menagerie. During the French Revolution, mobs attacked the king’s menagerie. Only five animals survived including a lion and a rhinoceros. These animals formed the basis of the new menagerie. Zarafa eventually called it home.
La Girafe Sculpture serves as a symbol of Zarafa’s legacy. The giraffe once captured the hearts of Parisians. The sculpture reminds us of a unique moment in history. It connects art with the natural world. It links us to a time when a single animal could inspire a nation.