A large equestrian statue of King Saint Louis, by èbvre, standing above the portico of the basilica of Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre. Paris France.
At the outbreak of the Franco Prussian War in1870, two catholic businessmen made a private religious vow. It was to build a church dedicated to the sacred heart of Christ should France be spared the impending Prussian onslaught. The two men, Alexandre Legentil and Hubert Rohault de Fleury, lived to see Paris delivered from invasion despite war and a lengthy siege, and also the commencement of what was to become the basilica of Sacré project was taken up by Archbishop Guibert of Paris, and work began in 1875 to a Romano-Byzantine inspired design by Paul Abadie. Two large bronze equestrian statues by èbvre were placed above the portico. This one represents King Saint Louis (1214-1270), who is the only French monarch to have been canonised. The basilica was completed in 1914, but the First World War and another German invasion forestalled the consecration until 1919.
Size: 2848px × 4287px
Location: Sacré-Coeur, Montmartre, 18th Arrondissement, Paris, Île-de-France, France, Europe.
Photo credit: © Andrew Wood / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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