Tomb of Empress Joséphine (detail)
by CARTELLIER, Pierre, Marble
When Jos�phine de Beauharnais ((Marie Jos�phe Rose, Tascher de la Pagerie) died on May 29th 1814, her children decided to pay her a tribute by building a tomb deserving her and her legendary generosity. After eleven years of delay - explained by political background, opposition of State officials and hesitations from the commissioners - on September 28th 1825, however, the mortal remains of the Empress were put down in a white-marble tomb due to Louis Berthault, architect, and Pierre Cartellier, sculptor.
The kneeling figure of the praying Empress surmounts her tomb.