Statuette of the Marquis de Lafayette 1870 - 1883

This is Jean Ossaye Mombur's statuette of the Marquis de Lafayette. Made in the late 19th century, it reflects a renewed interest in the celebrated French aristocrat who fought alongside the Americans in their revolution. Mombur, working in a period of shifting social structures, portrays Lafayette as a figure of idealized masculinity. His confident stance and military attire symbolize power and authority. Yet, it's crucial to remember that Lafayette's image was carefully constructed. He was a nobleman who championed republican ideals. This paradox highlights the complex intersection of class, identity, and political ideology at the time. The emotional resonance of the statuette lies in its commemoration of transatlantic alliances and the revolutionary spirit. How might the meaning of this statue change if viewed from the perspective of the enslaved peoples during Lafayette's time, who were denied the very freedoms he fought to establish?