Monument à Watteau

Monument à Watteau is a stone sculpture in Luxembourg Gardens depicting the French painter Antoine Watteau alongside symbolic elements reflecting his artistic approach and creations. The work stands as a public tribute to his contribution to European art.

The monument was inaugurated in 1896 to honor Antoine Watteau, the French painter who significantly shaped Rococo art in the early 1700s. Its creation decades after the artist's death reflects the enduring recognition of his artistic legacy.

The monument honors Watteau's creation of fêtes galantes, a genre depicting aristocratic leisure scenes that reshaped how French painters approached their subjects for decades to come. Visitors can sense the link between the artist and his influential approach to painting.

The sculpture is located in Luxembourg Gardens and easily accessible, with wheelchair access available at the site. Informational plaques provide background details that enhance understanding of the painter and his era.

The statue stands near where Gersaint's art shop once operated, the location where Watteau painted his final masterwork, L'Enseigne de Gersaint. This spatial connection links the monument directly to one of the artist's most important creations.

Location: 6th arrondissement of Paris

Inception: 1896

Creator: Henri Désiré Gauquié

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

GPS coordinates: 48.84519,2.33426

Latest update: December 14, 2025 20:28