As no surprise to anyone who really knows me, I very much admire Joan of Arc and her courage as she tried to lead the people of France to independence in the early 15th century. Here was this teenager from the countryside, a woman no less, who received a prophecy from angels and took it upon herself to almost singlehandedly give military blow after military blow against the English. She gained the trust and respect of her troops and led her armies of men to win battle after battle. However, after being captured and handed over to the English, she faced imprisonment, trial, and execution by burning at the stake. It was not until almost 500 years later that she was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, and declared a patron saint of France.
And with that recognition, comes a LOT of statues of her in various stages of her life. So, here are my top 10 Joan of Arc statues that I found during my month-long stay in France.
Number 10:
This statue was found at the Joan of Arc Museum in Rouen. It was in a ballroom which was very plainly decorated, save for a few paintings and a statue on the opposite end. The statue itself is pretty plain too, just Joan standing in armor holding what appears to be a leaf of some sort.
Number 9:
This statue was found while church-hopping with my roommate for research on her project. This statue is also pretty plain, but I think the detail is a little better, and truly shows how old she was when she led her troops, only about 18 or 19.
Number 8:
This statue was found in the Church of Joan of Arc in Rouen, next to the spot where she was executed. Even though the statue is not heavily decorated, it looks almost angelic, with flames of the pyre on the side where candles can be placed.
Number 7:
This statue was found outside the Basilica of Joan of Arc, while church-hopping with my roommate. While this statue is not unlike the others where she is wearing armor, this time she is flying a flag and her foot is stepping forward, ready to march into battle.
Number 6:
This statue was found inside St. Eustache in Les Halles, which is the church where Easter Mass for Notre Dame was held. The church is glorious in many ways, and I feel this statue helps to capture that moment, as Joan of Arc clutches her flag and gazes as the stained glass above her.
Number 5:
This statue was found outside the Louvre. Probably one of the most well-known statues of Joan of Arc, this is also the most public in Paris. Almost all other statues were found inside a church, on church property, or in a museum. This is also the only gilded one I found, which I feel is the only way to really capture her glory, in a public space. My only downside to the statue is that her flag was missing when I visited.
Number 4:
This statue was found inside the Louvre. I like this one because I feel it is another example of showing her true age and how willing she was to go fight for her country despite the risks. She clearly looks like a teenager, and delicately has her head up to listen to the prophecy from the angels. However, her left hand already has a strong hold on her armor and her left shoe is on.
Number 3:
This statue was found outside the Church of Joan of Arc in Rouen. While the statue on the inside is more of an abstract rendition of her burning at the stake, this is a CLEAR depiction. She is also clearly depicted as a martyr, with a sword and a crown of thorns carved behind her head. The flames are also not very large, and the focus is more on her, then what is happening around her.
Number 2:
This statue was found in the Museum d’Orsay. Now I am partial to this statue because a replica is at my university in one of the dorms. However, I believe this statue really portrays Joan of Arc in a way that all the statues before hadn’t, as a pious woman, and a believer. She is wearing no armor, carries no flags, and does not even have any shoes. She is simply depicted as what she was, a woman. This is one of those statues you’d have to read the description to find out it was her, which is a rare find.
Number 1:
This statue was found at the Church of St. Denys de la Chapelle. Even though I’ve ranked other statues of her burning at the stake, I think this one is the most realistic. She is plainly dressed, with her hair down, and her arms chained behind a pyre, not angelically clasped or stretched out before you. Though her name has been restored over the centuries and she has been depicted in every which way, it is important to remember that this is how Joan of Arc truly met her end.