Monument au peintre louis francais

The painter Louis Français, who was born in Plombières in 1814 and died in Paris in 1897, was one of the first artists to join the Barbizon School, an artistic movement that pioneered the depiction of landscape from life. This approach is considered to be a prelude to Impressionism.

In 1901, a monument was erected in his honour. It was designed by the architect Émile Peyrot, who was awarded the Grand Prix de Rome for the work. Made of granite and bronze, the statue pays tribute to the essential aspects of Louis Français's life, in particular his passion for painting and nature.

The monument has been listed as a Monument Historique since 2001, underlining the importance of Louis Français in the history of art.