Imagine a poet walking through the Jardin du Luxembourg. Now, picture his statue standing right here. This is the Leconte de Lisle Statue. It commemorates Charles Marie Rene Leconte de Lisle. He was a famous French poet and writer. People usually knew him by his surname.
The Leconte de Lisle Statue is located in the Jardin du Luxembourg. This is near the Place Edmond Rostand entrance. The garden is a large public park. It has beautiful flowerbeds and well-kept lawns. Many statues are in this park including the Leconte de Lisle Statue.
Denys Puech created the Leconte de Lisle Statue. He was a talented artist and sculptor. Puech sculpted over 500 works in his career. He almost won the Prix de Rome twice. Finally, he won first place in 1884.
The impressive Leconte de Lisle Statue stands 3.8 meters tall. This includes its cylindrical base. The statue is made of marble. It was sculpted in 1897. However, it was not placed in the Jardin du Luxembourg until July 1898.
Leconte de Lisle was born on Reunion Island. It is in the Indian Ocean. He played a key role in the Parnassian poetic movement. Also, the poet worked as an assistant librarian at the Palais du Luxembourg. It makes sense that his statue is in the garden of this historical building.
The statue shows an allegory of Glory. Glory has wide-open wings. She embraces the bust of the poet. The poet is walking toward “le Parnasse”. Jose-Maria de Heredia was at the inauguration. He was a friend of Leconte de Lisle. Heredia represented the Academie Francaise.
The plaque near the Leconte de Lisle Statue tells about Denys Puech. He was born in 1854 and died in 1942. He was from Aveyron France.
The Jardin du Luxembourg has over 100 statues. The Leconte de Lisle Statue is one of these impressive monuments. Take some time to appreciate the beauty and history around you. Consider the words of Anatole France after seeing the statue. He joked about Puech potentially creating a Dreyfus affair statue.
The Leconte de Lisle Statue is a tribute to a great poet. It also showcases the talent of Denys Puech. Remember Leconte de Lisle as you explore this garden. Think about his contribution to French literature. His legacy lives on in this beautiful statue.