Statue of Anne of Brittany

Anne of Brittany was a significant figure in the history of France and Brittany. As the Duchess of Brittany, she effectively ensured the region's independence from France during her lifetime. However, her matrimonial alliances played a pivotal role in the eventual union of Brittany with France. Anne was married three times: her first marriage to Maximillian I of Austria was annulled, allowing her to marry King Charles VIII of France. Following Charles' unfortunate demise, she married King Louis XII, making her the only woman to become queen consort of France on two occasions. Despite experiencing numerous pregnancies, she faced immense personal tragedy, with only two of her children surviving to adulthood. She passed away at the age of 36 in 1514, exhausted from her many childbirths.

The marble statue of Anne of Brittany stands majestically in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. Commissioned by King Louis Philippe I, it is a part of a revered series titled "Reines de France et Femmes Illustres" or "Queens of France and Famous Women". The statue, measuring at a height of 1.95 meters, was masterfully sculpted by the artist Jean Baptiste Joseph Debay. Debay, also distinguished as Debay the younger, was a prodigious talent, having won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1829. The statue was officially completed on 21st August 1846 and first showcased at the Paris Salon in 1847. A notable feature of this piece is a plaque on its base, which inscribes her name, her title as the Queen of France, and the years of her birth and death, symbolizing her enduring legacy.