The Prince Imperial and His Dog
by CARPEAUX, Jean-Baptiste, Marble, height 140 cm
Carpeaux was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III to create a lifesize sculpture of the nine-year-old prince. The prince is portrayed, wearing contemporary clothing, with his favourite dog. The dog, twisting its own body around that of the prince, lends stability to the whole piece, providing a support in the traditional style of classical marble statues, in which this function is often performed by a tree stump.