Marius debout sur les ruines de Carthage, Marble statue in Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, France
Marius Standing on the Ruins of Carthage is a marble statue by Victor Vilain, placed in the Jardin du Luxembourg in 1861. It shows the Roman general in armour, one foot on a helmet, looking down at the ruins of Carthage. The figure stands on a pedestal inscribed with the word Carthago.
Victor Vilain created this marble sculpture in 1861 on commission from the Interior Ministry. The work premiered at the Paris Salon that year and was later honored at the 1867 World's Fair.
The statue depicts Gaius Marius, the Roman general and consul, seated among the ruins of Carthage, which he captured in 146 BC. Victor Vilain carved the marble in 1861, and the figure's helmet and the word Carthago on the base identify the subject for passers-by in the Jardin du Luxembourg.
The statue sits in a large public garden in central Paris and can be viewed freely at any time. Early morning or overcast days offer the best light for appreciating the marble details and the composition.
The marble base carries the word Carthago beside a helmet, and the sculptor Victor Vilain signed the work. The statue was shown at the 1867 World's Fair after its 1861 Salon debut, which spread its reputation beyond the Jardin du Luxembourg.
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