L'Acteur grec, Bronze sculpture in Jardin du Luxembourg, France
L'Acteur grec is a bronze sculpture in the Jardin du Luxembourg showing a young actor holding a manuscript with a theater mask positioned on his forehead. The figure displays detailed craftsmanship with classical proportions characteristic of 19th-century academic sculpture.
Charles-Arthur Bourgeois created this sculpture in 1868, and it was later purchased by the French state. Before finding its current location in the Jardin du Luxembourg, the work was displayed at other venues.
This representation of an ancient actor reflects France's admiration for classical Greek theatrical traditions. The figure's pose and attributes show how 19th-century artists looked to antiquity for inspiration in their own work.
The sculpture sits on a wide lawn and is easy to locate by following sight lines toward the Pantheon dome. You can view the statue from different distances and walk around it freely.
The work originally found a home in a theater before being presented at a major public exhibition. This journey reveals how sculptures moved between different settings to find their permanent places.
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