Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Philatelic Photograph: Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile - Paris, France


Interesting Places I've Photographed
Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile
Paris, France
Topic: Philatelic Photographs

Southeast Face of the Arch of Triumph
North Side of the Arch of Triumph 
GPS: N48° 52.420; E002° 17.724

Quick Description: 

The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile is located in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle at the western end of the Champs-Élysées.

Long Description:

The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 after the victory of the Grand Army at Austerlitz. The monument was designed in the Neo-classical style by Jean Chalgrin in 1806. When Chalgrin died in 1811, construction was taken over by Jean-Nicolas Huyot. Construction was halted during the Bourbon Restoration (1814 - 1830), and resumed between 1833 and 1836, under the reign of King Louis-Philippe. The architects were Goust, then Huyot working under the direction of Héricart de Thury. The inspiration for the Arch was the Roman Arch of Titus.

The monument is 164' high, 148' wide, and 72' deep. The central vault is 95.8' high and 48.0' wide. The smaller side vaults are 61.3' high and 27.7' wide. The Arc de Triomphe honors those who fought and died for France in the during the French Revolution and in the Napoleonic Wars. The names of all French victories and generals are inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

Four large sculptural groups are on the base of the Arc Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile are: The Triumph of 1810 by Cortot, Resistance and Peace both by Antoine Étex, and Departure of the Volunteers of 1792 (commonly called La Marseillaise) by François Rude.

The stamp was issued by France on September 20, 2003 as part of a 10 stamp sheet in the on going Aspects of Life in French Regions series. It depicts the southeast side of the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile. This is the side that faces the Place de la Concorde and contains the sculptures: The Triumph of 1810 and Departure of the Volunteers of 1792.

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