The Statue of Napoleon in the Place du Général-de-Gaulle, Rouen, Normandy was erected in 1865. The equestrian statue was sculpted in bronze by Gabriel-Vital Dubray, and its pedestal was designed by Louis Desmarest.[1] It stands in front of the city hall.[2]
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| Location | Place du Général-de-Gaulle, Rouen, Normandy |
|---|---|
| Designer | Louis Desmarest |
| Completion date | 1865 |
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In 1881, during the Third French Republic, the city's administration saw the statue of the emperor as contrary to their values. There were plans to melt it into a new statue of an effigy of the republic, or to remove the man and leave only the horse; these plans did not come to fruition due to lack of funds.[3]
In June 2020, the statue was taken down for repairs. Fractures in the hoof of the horse meant that it could have fallen down.[4] A treasure chest of bronze, silver and gold coins of Napoleon III – Napoleon's nephew and reigning emperor at the time of inauguration – was found inside the pedestal.[1] In September, mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol (Socialist) wished to replace it with a statue or work of art dedicated to the recently deceased feminist Gisèle Halimi. The plans were strongly opposed by the leader of the city's opposition, Jean-François Bures.[2] Historian Thierry Lentz, director of the Fondation Napoléon, called the plans "cancel culture" and argued that Napoleon was a benefactor of Rouen, making him more locally relevant than Halimi.[5] In December 2021, a survey of 4,080 residents found that 68% wanted the statue to remain, and the city council said it would respect the result.[6]
Later in December 2021, the statue was registered as a monument historique.[4]