Bertrada, Marble statue in Luxembourg Garden, France
This marble statue depicts Bertrada, a medieval queen and mother of Charlemagne, adorned with a diadem and long braided hair. She holds a small seated figure of her son in her hands.
Sculptor Eugene Andre Oudine created this work in 1848 as part of the Queens and Illustrious Women of France collection in the Luxembourg Garden. The series commemorates significant women in French history and influence.
The statue presents Bertrada as a figure whose historical importance was deemed worthy of public commemoration among other notable French women. Her depiction reflects how the 19th century viewed women's roles in medieval political life.
The statue stands in the Luxembourg Garden in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, displayed among roughly twenty marble sculptures of other notable women. The garden is a public space where the sculpture is freely visible and easy to find amid the park's layout.
The small figure of Charlemagne that Bertrada holds displays a globe in his hand, symbolizing the vast influence of this medieval ruler. This detail reveals how 19th century artists wanted to portray the family's role in shaping European history.
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