Give your vote... please!

I have already posted (on my previous blog and on this one) on Place de Vendôme and the Vendôme Column.

Passing by a dull afternoon last week, I thought I should try some different illustrations of the column and then check which one you possibly prefer.

But first, maybe a few words about the column: It was originally erected by Napoleon to celebrate his victory at Austerlitz (1805). The 425 spiraling bas-relief bronze plates and the statue of Napoleon as a Roman Emperor and “peace-maker” on the top were made out of cannons taken from enemy armies. When Napoleon had abdicated and the Royalty was back, his statue was pulled down (and the bronze was used for the recast of the equestrian statue of Henry IV on the Pont Neuf (see previous post). Later in the 1830’s, during King Louis-Philippe’s reign, a replacement statue of Napoleon in a “modern” dress took place, again replaced by another more heroic version in the 1850’s during Napoleon III’s reign. Then, in 1871 (the Paris Commune), the whole column and statue were taken down (the bronze plates were preserved), finally to be re-erected in 1874 with a copy of the original statue on the top. (A copy of the original statue has been preserved.)


Addendum March 2: I learnt that the Napoleon statue you can find at the Invalides is the one which in the 1830's was on top of the column. See previous post: http://www.peter-pho2.com/2011/12/arch-of-triumph-something-more.html

So, back to my question: Which illustration do you prefer? If I give the top picture the number 1 – not necessarily my own choice, this one would be number 2…

… followed by number 3…

… number 4…

… number 5…

… number 6…

… number 7…

… number 8…

… and number 9.

Sorry, there is nothing to win except my gratitude for having commented and possibly “voted”.