Pierre Corneille, Statue in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France
Pierre Corneille is a light gray stone statue in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, made by Gabriel Rispal in 1952. The standing playwright wears long flowing robes and holds drapery with one hand, one foot resting on a small sculpted animal. The tall square pedestal is inscribed "P. CORNEILLE" above the dates "1606 - 1684".
Pierre Corneille lived in the 17th century and became known for his plays, especially Le Cid, which had a lasting influence on French theater. The statue was made by Gabriel Rispal, a sculptor trained at the Beaux-Arts schools in Bordeaux and Paris, and was completed in the early 1950s.
The statue stands in a neighborhood full of bookshops and university buildings, where students pass by every day. Corneille is seen in France as the father of classical tragedy, and his presence here reflects how deeply theater is rooted in Parisian street life.
The statue is in the 5th arrondissement and easy to reach on foot from the Sorbonne or the Luxembourg Gardens. It stands outdoors and can be visited at any time without any entry requirement.
Gabriel Rispal trained at the Beaux-Arts schools of Bordeaux and Paris before winning the Prix de Rome in 1924; the Corneille statue was inaugurated in 1952. Look at the pedestal's front face, where the name "P. CORNEILLE" is cut above the dates 1606 - 1684.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,507 contributors worldwide.
