The Patriotic Art of the Arc de Triomphe, Paris

Larger Than Life: Art that inspires us through the ages

A French national treasure, the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, stands a colossal 164 feet high, 148 feet wide, and 72 feet deep and is dedicated to the armies of the Republic and Empire. (Paris 16/CC BY-SA 2.0) )

In 1805, Napoléon Bonaparte promised “triumphal arches” to his troops after they won the Battle of Austerlitz.

The first arch that he commissioned was the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (the Triumphal Arch of the Star) in Paris, commonly known as the Arc de Triomphe, and construction began on Aug. 15, 1806, Bonaparte’s birthday.