Le Cavalier romain, Limestone sculpture at Pont d'Iéna, France
Le Cavalier romain is a limestone sculpture standing on one of the four pylons of Pont d'Iéna bridge, depicting a mounted Roman warrior in precise detail. It forms part of a set of four warrior figures that represent different ancient military traditions from around the classical world.
French artist Louis-Joseph Daumas created this limestone figure in 1853 during a major decorative program for Pont d'Iéna under Napoleon III. All four warrior figures on the bridge were added during this period of elaborate architectural embellishment.
The four warrior figures on the pylons display different military traditions side by side, with each one representing a distinct cultural perspective. This arrangement reflects how the 1800s viewed and celebrated various civilizations through artistic representation.
The sculpture sits on Pont d'Iéna, a pedestrian bridge you can walk across that connects over the Seine near the Eiffel Tower. You can view the figure best from the sides as you cross the bridge or observe it from the nearby riverbank areas.
This warrior figure survived later attempts to alter the bridge's decorations when political circumstances led to changes in other ornamental elements. Its persistence on the bridge reveals how this particular sculpture was valued and protected.
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