Thomas Paine Statue

Hidden within the tranquil Parc Montsouris stands a gleaming tribute to a fiery spirit. The Thomas Paine Statue, a gilded bronze figure, captures the revolutionary fervor of its subject. Thomas Paine, the Englishman by birth, French citizen by decree, and American by adoption, stands as a testament to the power of ideas. This statue, inaugurated in 1948, wasn’t originally intended for this peaceful park. It was commissioned in 1937 by the President of the Freethinkers of America as a gift to France. The sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, the same artist who carved the faces of presidents into Mount Rushmore, chose gilded bronze. This was a nod to Napoleon Bonaparte’s admiration for Paine. Napoleon, impressed by Paine’s “Rights of Man,” declared that every city should have a golden statue in his honor. The statue was initially planned for the Place des Etats-Unis, then Square Galli. World War II delayed its installation. The statue, cast in 1939, remained with the Rudier foundry until 1948. It finally found its home in Parc Montsouris, facing the United States Foundation of the Cité internationale. The statue depicts Paine in the pose of an orator, a scroll clutched in his left hand. Inscriptions on the accompanying stele highlight Paine’s writings. These include “Common Sense,” “The Crisis,” “Rights of Man,” and “The Age of Reason.” Other inscriptions feature quotes from Paine, emphasizing his belief in independence, truth, and reason. The Thomas Paine Statue serves as a reminder of his unwavering dedication to human rights and his profound impact on both the American and French Revolutions. It stands as an enduring symbol of his global citizenship and his unwavering belief in the power of reason.