The
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel was built
by Napoleon I to commemorate the battles
fought by his armies in 1805. Originally
intended to sever as an entrance to the
Tuileries palace, by the time it was finished
in 1808 it was installed as part of the
building. When the palace was destroyed
in a fire in 1871 those responsible for
the reconstruction effort decided that
the arch was too good to destroy and did
not need a building to surround it.
Believed to be modeled after the Arch
of Constantine in Rome, and with the proportions
of the Arch of Septimius Severus (also
in Rome), it was given Corinthian columns
in red and white marble. Bas-reliefs depicting
the major events of the Napolionic campaigns
cover its surface and its crown was to
be a statue of a chariot pulled by four
horses.
The
bas-reliefs illustrate the following events:
“(facing the Louvre) "The Surrender
at Ulm" by Cartellier and "The
battle of Austerlitz" by Esparcieux;
(facing the rue de Rivoli) "Napoleon
entering Munich" and "Napoleon
bringing back the King of Bavaria"
by Clodion; (facing the Tuileries Gardens)
"Napoleon entering Vienna" by
Deseine and "The Meeting of the two
Emperors" by Ramey; (facing the Seine)
"The Peace of Presbourg" by
Lesueur.”
It is said that the horses that were at
the top of the arch were taken from the
Basilica in Venice. In truth the originals
were sent back to Venice in 1815 and replaced
by copies. The statue group was eventually
added to by adding an allegory of the
Restoration surrounded by two Victories
by Bosio.
Arc
De Carrousel Travel Links |
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