Sculpture By émile Laporte: “departure For Combat” (1884)

Dimensions Height: 89 cm Depth: 38 cm Width: 54 cm Signature Signed on the motif: E. Laporte The Gauls: Fashionable heroes of the end of the 19th century Fascination for the Gallic ancestors At the end of the 19th century, the figure of Gauls invaded the arts, notably painting and sculpture. But where does this craze for “our ancestors the Gauls” come from? Birth of a myth This interest in the combative and intrepid Gaul dates back to the end of the 18th century, stimulated by the excavations of Alésia ordered by Napoleon III. The discovery of this supposed site of the last battle of Vercingétorix and the opening of the National Archeology Museum in Saint-Germain-en-Laye in 1867 anchored the figure of the Gaul in the collective imagination. This discovery contributes to forging a common vision of national history. The Gaul: a well-defined physique Sculptures, paintings and school textbooks broadcast the image of a Gaul with a stereotypical physique: The winged helmet symbolizes the untamed barbarian. The bulging muscles indicate his raw strength. His determined look and outstretched index finger convey his resolution. His long, drooping mustache and his abundant hair complete the picture of the typical Gaul. Émile Laporte and the Gauls Émile Laporte, a recognized sculptor, took advantage of this craze to create works featuring Gauls. His sculptures, imbued with romanticism, celebrate the bravery and courage of these ancestors, thus meeting the criteria of the time. In conclusion The fascination with the Gauls at the end of the 19th century can be explained by a precise historical and cultural context. This artistic phenomenon contributed to forging a common national identity around the image of a heroic and idealized ancestor