An art founder, he cast the quadriga of the Arc du Carrousel, the Napoleon of the Vendôme column and the Louis XIV of Versailles. His epitaph lists his bronzes instead of his titles, a unique case in the cemetery. It keeps silent, however, about the essential: born poor in Le Puy, he left his fortune to the poor of his town.
The story
His epitaph lists not titles but bronzes: “Bayard et le château d'eau de Grenoble, Louis XIV à Caen, quadrige de l'arc de triomphe du Carrousel, Louis XVI pour Bordeaux, Napoléon de la colonne Vendôme, statue équestre de Louis XIV à Versailles.” — the Grenoble fountain, the four-horse chariot of the Carrousel arch. A catalogue for an inscription, and the only one of its kind in the cemetery.
Born at Le Puy-en-Velay on 18 February 1795 and trained under the sculptor Pierre Cartellier, Charles Crozatier became a founder of art bronzes and cast some of the most looked-at monuments in France. He cast the equestrian statue of Louis XIII in Paris as well.
Born poor, he died on 8 February 1855 leaving his fortune to the poor of Le Puy, the town of his birth — a bequest that endowed it with institutions still carrying his name. His monument in Division 49, in green marble, is by the architect Alphonse Girard, the sculpture being the work of the Bosio brothers. The stone lists what he cast for other men; the will is not on it.
The grave
A monument in green veined marble by the architect Alphonse Girard, carved by Astyanax-Scévola Bosio, whose inscription is one of the most singular in the cemetery: it lists the founder's works instead of his titles — “Bayard and the water tower of Grenoble, Louis XIV at Caen, quadriga of the triumphal arch of the Carrousel, Louis XVI for Bordeaux, Napoleon of the Vendôme column, equestrian statue of Louis XIV at Versailles.” A catalogue of bronzes by way of epitaph, for a man born poor who left his fortune to the poor of Le Puy.
On site, do not miss
The inscription lists works, not titles: the quadriga of the Carrousel, the Napoleon of the Vendôme column, the Louis XIV at Versailles. The monument, in green veined marble, is by the architect Alphonse Girard; the sculpture and the bronzes are by Astyanax-Scévola Bosio. Look for the bas-relief in which the founder directs his workmen in his foundry.
Visitors' questions
Where is Charles Crozatier's grave?
In Division 49, chemin de la Cave, first row — the Division of Delacroix. The monument, in green veined marble, is by the architect Alphonse Girard, with sculpture by Astyanax-Scévola Bosio, and the inscription lists his works instead of his titles. He died in 1855 and rests in Division 49.
Eugène DelacroixWhat did he cast?
The quadriga of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, the statue of Napoleon on the Vendôme column, and the equestrian statues of Louis XIV at Versailles and Louis XIII in Paris — among the most-seen bronzes in France.
Antoine-Louis BaryeWhat did he do with his fortune?
He gave it away: born poor in Le Puy-en-Velay, he bequeathed his fortune to the poor of Le Puy, his home town. The legacy helped endow the town with institutions that still bear his name.
Pierre CartellierWhat does his epitaph say?
It lists works, not titles: “Bayard et le château d'eau de Grenoble, Louis XIV à Caen, quadrige de l'arc de triomphe du Carrousel, Louis XVI pour Bordeaux, Napoléon de la colonne Vendôme, statue équestre de Louis XIV à Versailles.” — Bayard and the Grenoble water tower, Louis XIV at Caen, the quadriga of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Louis XVI for Bordeaux, Napoleon on the Vendôme column, the equestrian statue of Louis XIV at Versailles.
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