Elephant of the Bastille
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The Elephant of the Bastille was a monument in Paris which existed between 1813 and 1846. Originally conceived in 1808 by Napoleon I, the colossal statue was intended to be created out of bronze and p
Siderograph (steel engraving) of the plaster full-scale model, by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, 1830
View of the Elephant of the Bastille as it would have appeared in situ
1844 drawing showing rats running around on the statue
An 1865 illustration by Gustave Brion for Les Misérables
Les Misérables
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Les Misérables is a French epic historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published on 31 March 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. Les Misérables has been popularize
Elephant of the Bastille
…model was built. At 24 m (78 ft) in height, the model itself became a recognisable construction and was immortalised by Victor Hugo in his novel Les Misérables (1862) in which it is used as a shelter by the street urchin Gavroche. It was built at the site of the Bastille and, although part of the original…
Jean Valjean, under the alias Monsieur Madeleine, illustration by Gustave Brion
Eugène Vidocq, whose career provided a model for the character of Jean Valjean
Fantine by Margaret Hall
Cosette by Emile Bayard, from the original edition of Les Misérables (1862)