La Nuit

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This bronze sculpture of Aristide Maillol personifies La Nuit. A female nude sits with legs bent, arms resting on knees and her head reclined against them. Since 1964, this sculpture has been displayed in the garden of the Carrousel within the Tuileries in Paris's 1st arrondissement. It is part of a collection of Maillol statues showcased outdoors. Known as the Place du Carrousell, this area was once enclosed by the Louvre's wings and the Tuileries Palace. In the past, it served as a cavalry parade ground and site for various festivities. The central feature is the Arc de triomphe du Carrousel, built to honor Napoleon's victories with bas-relief sculptures depicting his battles by Jean Joseph Espercieux. The garden was renovated in 1995 to display twenty-one statues by Aristide Maillol that were initially placed in the Tuileries in 1964.