Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Historical monument at Palais Bourbon, France.

This stone and plaster statue stands before the National Assembly, showing the figure in a seated position facing the entrance of the Palais Bourbon. The monument is detailed and carefully sculpted to convey the dignity of its subject.

The monument was created in 1810 to honor a 17th-century minister who fundamentally transformed the kingdom's finances and commerce. His reforms under Louis XIV shaped French administration for generations.

The marble figure is by Jacques Dumont le Romain, commissioned in 1810 under Napoleon. Colbert's name lives on in French institutions: the phrase "colbertisme" describes state-directed economic policy, and the Cour des comptes, created by his reforms, still audits public spending.

The statue faces the main entrance of the Palais Bourbon across the street, so it is seen from the pavement of the place du Palais-Bourbon rather than from inside the courtyard. The Assemblée nationale sits opposite; expect restricted access and security checks around the building, especially on sitting days. The nearest métro station is Assemblée nationale on line 12.

The original sculpture was moved to a university in 1988, replaced by an exact replica matching every dimension and detail. This swap allows the true work to be preserved while maintaining its symbolic place before parliament.