Paris, sculpted ladies

More than any other city in France, Paris has attracted sculptors for centuries. Its monuments, bridges, squares, parks and gardens, as well as many of its great buildings, have contributed to making Paris one giant open-air museuni.

During the times from the Renaissance to the Belle Epoque, women were not portrayed realistically - it would have been unsuitable - but they were often idealised : artists used feminine beauty, grace and elegance as symbols for a variety of concepts and quite surprising metaphors.

Through sculptures of women, artists have represented numerous forms of art including Music and Dance ; you may also notice sculptures representing different regions, rivers and cities of the world and concepts such as Law, Justice and Peace, or find different industrial achievements such as Mechanics, the Steam Engine and Electricity !

Some of these metaphors may appear to stretch the imagination, but after all... why not ?

Marie-Madeleine de Verchère