The monument, inaugurated in 1765, is the work of Pigalle, but the two allegorical figures, which are supposed to be portraits of the sculptor and his wife, alone are original.
The original statue of Louis XV. was removed at the time of the Revolution (August 15, 1792), and sent to the foundry. It was first replaced by a pyramid surmounted by a "Fame," in memory of the defenders of the Patrie, then by a plaster Goddess of Liberty, and in 1803 by a trophy of arms and flags. The present statue, erected under Louis XVIII. (1818), is due to the sculptor Cartellier, and is an exact replica of the original one.
It was on the steps of the monument that the Conventionist Ruhl smashed the Sacred Ampulla under the Revolution.
From the Place Royale, return to the Market Square, cross over to the Rue de Tambour (parallel with the Rue Colbert).
The Rue de Tambour owes its name either to the statue of a tambourine-player on one of its houses, or to the presence of the town-drummer who lived in it. It was first damaged, then burnt, in April, 1918.
THE STATUES OF THE MUSICIANS' HOUSE
The house was destroyed by bombardment, but the statues were saved.
Previous to 1918, old houses in this street were still numerous. The most celebrated was the now completely destroyed Musicians' House (photo above), the true origin of which is unknown.
It has variously been supposed to have been the house of a rich burgess, of the Tom Fiddlers' Brotherhood, and the Mint of the Archbishops of Rheims. The first storey of the façade had been preserved intact since the 13th century. In the Gothic niches which separated the mullioned and transomed windows, five large seated figures on carved consoles (photo above) represented a tambourine and flute player, a piper, a falconer with crossed legs, a harpist and an organ-grinder crowned with a garland of flowers. The falcon on the wrist of the central figure was removed by the organisers of the consecration of Charles X., as it was feared that the royal banners might get caught on it.
Fortunately, these statues, which are remarkable for their natural expression and vigour were removed to a place of safety before the house was destroyed.