Jules Dalou

Jules Dalou (1838-1902) was a sculptor, with a remarkable production of which a number can still be found around Paris. Before giving some examples, maybe a few words about him.

He was born in Paris into a working-class family. He remained some kind of Republican socialist all his life, which e.g. forced him to take refuge in England 1871 - 1879. After all, he finally got full recognition, was chosen for some important works, was awarded the Grand Prix of the Exposition Universelle in 1889, was made commander of the Legion of Honour…

His most well-known monument is probably “The Triumph of the Republic”, which was installed on Place de la Nation (see previous post) in 1899. We can see the symbol of the Republic (Marianne?) standing on the top of the chariot of the Nation, drawn by lions, “guided by the Sprit of Freedom, surrounded by the symbols for labour (a blacksmith) and justice… and then the abundance is distributed”. (Not easy to reach this "perfection" when it comes to reality!)

(Nothing to do here, perhaps, but when I took the photos, I was charmed by this little group and the young photographer.)

In the Luxembourg Gardens (see previous posts) you can find (at least?) three of his works, including ‘The"Triumph of Silenius” (1885) and a more simple one, erected after Dalou’s death (in 1908), in memory of Auguste Scheurer-Kestner, industrial and politician (and active Drefuys-defender)…

… and this tribute to the painter Eugène Delacroix (1890). This reminds me about some paintings by Delacroix in the Saint Sulpice church (see previous post), which are in heavy need of restoration, obviously planned, but…

Along Avenue Foch (see previous post) there is since 1899 a tribute to Jean-Charles Alphand (1817-91), the creator of the Bois de Boulogne (see previous posts), Bois de Vincennes (see previous posts), Parc Monceau (see previous posts), Parc Montsouris (see previous post), , the Buttes de Chaumont (see previous post), the Champs-Elysées Gardens (see previous post), the Trocadéro Gardens (see previous post), the Temple Square (see previous post), “my” park, Square des Batignolles (see previous posts) and a lot more. Alphand is surrounded by some of his collaborators and in the right lower corner of this collage, we can see Dalou as seen by himself.

A different kind of monument can be found in a little park close to Porte Maillot, erected in 1907. It represents Emile Levassor (1843-97) winning the (the first ever?) automobile race, Paris-Bordeaux-Paris in 1895. (The monument was sketched by Dalou, but executed by Camille Lefèvre.)  Levassor was part of the Panhard-Levassor car manufacturer.

There are several epitaphs by Dalou in the Paris cemeteries, but the best known is perhaps this one of Victor Noir at the Père Lachaise cemetery (see previous post)   . (Victor Noir was an ordinary journalist, who is more known for his grave than for anything else: He was killed by a cousin to the Emperor Napoleon III. The sculpture of him gives the impression that he is sexually exited and it has become a fertility symbol…)

Here are some examples of Dalou works which can be found elsewhere, in museums...