Bartholdi, Champollion & the Sphinx: Debating Public Monuments

Temporary exhibition - From 11 April to 19 July 2026

In Spring 2026, a major artwork arrives at the museum: Auguste Bartholdi’s "Monument to Jean-François Champollion", previously housed in the main courtyard of the Collège de France in Paris. To mark the occasion, an exhibition highlights the history of the statue, Bartholdi’s ties to Egypt, and the wider passion for public monuments at the turn of the 20th century—some of which are now the subject of debate.

Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, <i>Champollion</i>, 1875, Centre national des arts plastiques

Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, Champollion, 1875, Centre national des arts plastiques © Alain Guilleux

<i>Lion de Belfort</i>, 27 November1917, postcard

Lion de Belfort, 27 November1917, postcard © musée Camille Claudel

Paul Dubois, <i>Études pour</i> La Foi et L’Espérance, médaillons du cénotaphe du général de Lamoricière, vers 1865-1878

Paul Dubois, Études pour La Foi et L’Espérance, médaillons du cénotaphe du général de Lamoricière, vers 1865-1878 © musée Camille Claudel

Aristide Maillol, <i>L’Action enchaînée</i>, 1905, bronze, fonte Claude Valsuani, Fondation Dina Vierny-musée Maillol

Aristide Maillol, L’Action enchaînée, 1905, bronze, fonte Claude Valsuani, Fondation Dina Vierny-musée Maillol © Jean-Louis Losi

Paul Dubois, <i>Esquisse pour le</i> monument à Jeanne d'Arc, avant 1889, cire

Paul Dubois, Esquisse pour le monument à Jeanne d'Arc, avant 1889, cire © Galerie Mathieu Néouze

<i>Statue du général Louis Juchault de la Moriciere</i>, postcard

Statue du général Louis Juchault de la Moriciere, postcard

Victorine-Angélique-Amélie Rumilly, <i>Jean-François Champollion</i>, 1823

Practical informations

Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm
The museum will be closed on 1 May

Admission Prices

Standard rate: €10
Reduced rate: €6
Free admission: first Sunday of every month (for individual visitors). Daily free entry for students and young people under 26, museum professional/scientific staff, holders of an ICOM card or press card, disabled visitors and their carer and war veterans (mutilés de guerre) and their carer.

With the exceptional support of the Musée Bartholdi (City of Colmar) and the National Centre for Visual Arts