Le Cavalier gaulois, Limestone sculpture at Pont d'Iéna, Paris, France

Le Cavalier gaulois is a stone sculpture by Antoine-Augustin Préault, set in 1853 on the Pont d'Iéna. It shows a bare-chested horseman with a shield and sword, one of four equestrian figures placed at the bridge's corners. The statue faces the Champ de Mars, opposite the Roman, Greek and Arab horsemen.

Antoine-Augustin Préault completed this sculpture in 1853, the year the Pont d'Iéna was widened with four equestrian statues at its approaches. The figure represents a Gaulish horseman, one of the four warrior types chosen for the bridge, alongside Roman, Greek and Arab riders. The commission tied the new bridge decoration to France's Gallic past.

This statue is one of four equestrian figures on Pont d'Iéna, each representing warriors from different civilizations: Gallic, Roman, Greek, and Arab. Together they form a tribute to the diverse cultures that shaped Europe.

The sculpture sits on a busy bridge making it easily accessible on foot from several nearby starting points. The best view of the work can be enjoyed from both sides of the bridge, especially when walking slowly across Pont d'Iéna.

Préault's horseman is one of four equestrian statues on the Pont d'Iéna, each paired with a different ancient people; the Gaul faces the Champ de Mars side. Look for the warrior's raised arm and the horse's stance, details that distinguish this figure from its three companions along the parapet.