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Origin and history

The statue of Jeanne d'Arc in Montebourg is a cast iron work made at the end of the 19th century, more precisely in 1899. It is located in the Manche department in Normandy, on Place Jeanne-d'Arc or rue du Général-Leclerc. This monument is the first copy of a series of nine identical statues, symbolizing nationalist renewal after the defeat of 1870. Joan of Arc is represented there in armor, brandishing a banner embroidered with the names of Jesus and Mary, while she rushes to battle.

The statue is the result of a collaboration between two sculptors: Mathurin Moreau, who shaped the figure of Jeanne d'Arc, and Pierre Le Nordez, author of the horse. The work was melted by the Fonderie d'art du Val d'Osne, renowned for its cast iron productions. This monument, along with its base, was listed as historic monuments on August 18, 2006, recognizing its heritage and artistic value.

The context of his creation was part of a post-1870 patriotic revival movement, where Joan of Arc became a symbol of resistance to German occupation, compared to that of the English in the 15th century. In Montebourg, this statue embodies both a tribute to heroin and an affirmation of national identity. Today it is owned by the municipality and remains a historical landmark in the city.

From a technical point of view, the statue is an assembly of two distinct elements: the horse, designed by Le Nordez, and the figure of Jeanne d'Arc, modelled by Moreau. This separation of tasks reflects a common practice in sculpture workshops of the time, where artists specialize in specific parts of a complex work. The cast iron, a durable and malleable material, made it possible to reproduce in series, as evidenced by the eight other copies of this statue scattered in France.

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