Equestrian statue of Louis XIV in Montpellier France

CountryFrance
Town:Montpellier
Year of creation:1838
Rider(s):Louis XIV

(1638-1715), known as the Sun King reigned from 1643 to his death in 1715. His reign began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years. As such, it is one of the longest documented reigns of any European monarch.
Sculptor(s):Debay, Jean Baptiste

also known as Debay fils (1802 – 1862) was a French sculptor

Auguste Jean-Marie Carbonneaux (1769 – 1843) was a French founder and sculptor

Description:

Because of wars, the death of Louis XIV in 1715 and for many other reasons, it took 26 years before the statue in Montpellier by Pierre Mazeline de Rouen and Simon Hurtrelle de Béthune (1692) could be unveiled in 1718 after transportation from Paris that took six months. This statue was another that did not survive the revolution in 1792, and was replaced by the guillotine. In 1838, a new statue, half the size of the original one and this time designed by Jean-Baptiste Joseph de Bay and founded Francois Joseph Carbonneaux, replaced the original. This time the transport from Paris to Montpellier took 25 days. The statue shows Louis XIV in the Marcus Aurelius way. The setting of this statue is another that is exemplary.