Description
Stone statue of Dumont d'Urville, standing, leaning his left arm on a pile of books, pen in hand, right hand on his chest and holding a scroll. He is in uniform, with a sword at his side. On the pedestal are four bronze reliefs:
- (front) 1840: The discovery of Terre Adélie: ice mountains, inhospitable region, and the Astrolabe in the background.
- (right) 1820: The discovery of the Venus of Milo: D'Urville finds the Venus, in the background a Greek temple. In fact, the statue was found by the Greek peasant Yorgos Kentrotas (depicted on the left) and was in two pieces.
- (back) 1826: The expedition in the Pacific Ocean. This scene symbolizes the discovery of the remains of La Perouse's expedition at Vanikoro.
- (left) 1842: The railway accident of 8 May 1842 in Meudon, where D'Urville, his wife and son died.
1. Discovery of Terre Adélie |
2. Discovery of the Venus of Milo |
3. Expedition in the Pacific Ocean |
4. Meudon railway accident, 8 May 1842 |
Inscription(s)
Signed: (statue) r. delandre / 1944
(bronze reliefs 1 and 3) Doque Molchneht / 1844
At the foot of the pedestal are some rocks from Terre Adélie, with the plaque:
L'Amiral DUMONT d'URVILLE
en 1840, decouvrait la terre adelie
et lui donnait le nom de sa femme.
—
don de Paul-Emile VICTOR
directeur des expeditions polaires francaises – 1969
|
Annotation
The original bronze statue was melted down by the German occupying forces in 1942, a marble replacement was later erected.
Sculptors
- Robert Delandre (Elbeuf 1879 - Paris 1961),
French sculptor
(Wikipedia).
- Johann Dominik Mahlknecht (Überwasser in St. Ulrich in Gröden, Gemeinde Kastelruth, 1793 - Paris 1876),
French sculptor, originating from Tyrol, in France known as Dominique Molknecht, Molchneht oder Molchnecht
(Wikipedia).
Sources & Information
Tags
Locatie (N 48°51'5" - W 0°32'58") (Satellite view: Google Maps)
Item Code: frbn034; Photograph: 26 May 2012
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt
Your banner here? Click for information.
