Sculpture Conservation in the Tuileries Garden

The Louvre Museum oversees the care and conservation of the Tuileries Garden, which was once the private recreational grounds of French monarchs. Created in the 16th century by Catherine de Medici and re-designed by Andre le Nôtre in the 17th century, the footprint of the extensive garden remains largely intact. Over the years, the Tuileries Garden’s beauty has been enhanced by the addition of monumental sculptures throughout the grounds, with works by famous sculptors from Auguste Rodin to Jean Dubuffet, Giuseppe Penone, Aristide Maillol, Louise Bourgeois and more.

Today the Tuileries Garden is the largest public park in all of Paris. The aggregate foot traffic has prompted the Louvre to undertake a major improvement project, to which American Friends of the Louvre has made several important donations. American Jeweler David Yurman has ensured the conservation of four of the twelve Neoclassical sculptures around the Grand Basin of the Jardin des Tuileries: Thésée combattant le Minotaure by Etienne Jules Ramey, Périclès distribuant des couronnes aux artistes by Jean Baptiste Joseph Debay, Cincinnatus by Denis Foyatier and Alexandre combattant by Charles-Antoine Nanteuil-Lebœuf. All four sculptures are undergoing conservation treatment and molds and reproductions are being created of each. The replicas will be installed around the Grand Basin while the original Ramey statue will be exhibited in the Louvre’s Cour Puget. AFL Board Member Joan Kahn has guaranteed the restoration of Julien Roux’s La Comédie, another one of the twelve statues in the garden, while Board Member Patrick Gerschel’s contribution will secure the conservation and restoration of four sculptures by Auguste Cain, located at the northern and eastern main entrances to the Tuileries, off the Rue de Rivoli and the Avenue du Général Lemonnier, respectively. These depict wildlife vignettes and were displayed at the Paris Salon, as well as other important international art biennials following their creation.