Stendhal

This work is a bronze medallion created by sculptor Auguste Rodin that stands among roughly 100 other statues in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. The medallion displays a portrait of the French writer and sits within the renowned garden located in the 6th arrondissement.

The work was inaugurated on June 28, 1920 as the result of 15 years of effort by a dedicated committee formed in 1905. This lengthy process shows how important it was to honor one of France's greatest writers in public space.

The sculpture honors Henri Beyle, known as Stendhal, a French writer whose novels like The Red and the Black remain widely read today. His name is closely tied to literary romanticism, and the presence of his bust in the garden reminds visitors of his influence on French literature.

The work is located in the northern part of the garden, near the former mining school. Visitors can easily find it and explore the area on foot, as the entire grounds are flat and accessible.

Rodin did not create the medallion from scratch but adapted an earlier design by Pierre-Jean David d'Angers. This choice shows Rodin's respect for the older artist and the artistic vision that already existed.