Statues - Hither & Thither

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Marguerite Boucicaut et Clara de Hirsch

1816 - 1887 and 1833-1899 resp.
philanthropists
(Wikipedia)

Paul Moreau-Vauthier
1914

Paris / Marguerite Boucicaut et Clara de Hirsch

Description

Marble sculpture showing a stair of five steps with four figires: a woman sitting feeding a baby and two women with a child.

Inscription(s)

MADAME BOUCICAUT
1816 - 1887

MADAME DE HIRSCH
1833 - 1899

Annotation

Marguerite Boucicaut née Guérin (Verjux 1816 - Cannes 1887), philanthropist. With her husband, Aristide Boucicault, the owner of the Bon Marché, she created the Caisse de prévoyance des employés (Employee Provident Fund), powered exclusively by the employers' profits. On the death of her husband, December 26, 1877, she became director of the Bon Marché In 1880 she created the Société du Bon Marché and in 1886 a pension fund for employees.
When she died, she left her fortune to the Public Assistance, to pay specific bequests to numerous philanthropic companies or scientists (Institut Pasteur), the Legion of Honor, the remainder being used to construction of a hospital (Wikipedia).

Baronne Clara de Hirsch née Bischoffsheim (Antwerp 1833 - Paris 1899), married to Baron de Hirsch in 1855 and lived first in Munich, then in Brussels, and finally in Paris. In the work of founding colonies in Argentina and Canada, as an outlet for the persecuted Jews in Russia and the Orient, she was her husband's associate and inspiration. She was thoroughly conversant with all his schemes, so that at his death she was able to continue, develop, and complete, as well as add to, the undertakings begun by him. The strongest evidence of his complete confidence in her is in the fact that he left her sole administrator and residuary legatee of his vast fortune. After his death in 1896 she continued the administrative office in her house in the Champs Elysées, where she devoted herself to her work from early morning until late at night, surrounded by her secretaries (Jewish Encyclopedia).

Sculptor

Paul Moreau-Vauthier (1871 - Ruffigny 1936), French sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Phidias-Sculptures de rue, Les statues de rue de Paris.

Locatie (N 48°51'5" - E 2°19'34") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: frif010; Photograph: 25 May 2011
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
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© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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