Excerpt from Paris And Its Environs: Displayed In A Series Of Two Hundred Picturesque Views, From Original Drawings
This bridge, one of the finest in Europe, was commenced in the reign of Henry III. (1578), from designs by Androuet du Cerceau, and was finished by the celebrated Charles Marchand, in 1604, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Henry IV. It is composed of two unequal parts, which meet at the extremity of the Ile de la Cite; the part towards the north has seven arches, the other part five. At the point where these two parts meet is an Esplanade, where, in 1614, the statue of Henry IV. was erected. The history of this statue is not devoid of interest. A horse, in bronze, of colossal dimensions, was cast by the order of Ferdinand, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who intended to place on it his own statue. The duke however died, and the horse remained without a rider. His successor, Cosmo II., made a present of the horse to Mary of Medicis, regent of France. It was shipped at Leghorn, but was unfortunately wrecked on the coast of Normandy. It was, however, by immense efforts, dragged from its watery grave, and finally conducted in triumph to Paris. It was then set upon its legs on the Pont Neuf, and was there so long without a rider, that for a considerable period after the statue was finished, it went by no other name than the Cheval de Bronze. In 1788, and during the contentions between the Court and the Parliament, the head of the statue was crowned with ribbons and flowers. In 1789, at the breaking out of the Revolution, the national cockade ornamented its brows. For three days in July, 1790, an artificial rock was raised about it, upon which the figure of Henry seemed elevated, and in the evening concerts were held and dances were performed at its base. In 1792, when the revolutionists were short of cannon, the horse and his rider disappeared. Since the restoration of the Bourbons, another statue has been erected on the same spot, to the memory of the favourite monarch of France. The front of the monument is adorned with an inscription, and on the sides are two basso-relievos in bronze, one representing Henry IV. supplying Paris with provisions whilst he was besieging it, and the other depicting his entry into this city on the 22nd of March, 1594. The statue which is also of bronze, was modelled by Lemot and cast by Piggiani. From this bridge the spectator enjoys a beautiful view, taking in at once the Louvre, the Tuileries, the Hotel de la Monnaie, the Palais des Arts, four bridges and four quays lined with fine buildings.
The Pont Des Arts.
The Pont des Arts, constructed by Messrs. de Cessart and Dillon is an iron bridge of nine arches, leading from the Quai du Louvre to the Quai de la Monnaie, fronting the Institute or Palais des Beaux Arts, formerly called the College des Quatre Nations ou de Mazarin. Its name is derived from the Louvre, which was called the Palais des Arts, before that title was applied to the edifice of the Quatre Nations. This bridge was built by a company, who are reimbursed by a trifling toll levied upon every passenger. It is the first iron bridge ever constructed in France. It has an elegant appearance, but wants solidity, and is only used for foot passengers. It was once one of the most fashionable walks in Paris, but is now almost deserted. The length of the Pont des Arts is 505 feet.
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