Jean-François de la Barre - Paris, France
Posted by: Metro2
N 48° 53.165 E 002° 20.490
31U E 451726 N 5415000
A report that Jean-François de la Barre failed to salute a religious procession led to his execution in 1766.
Waymark Code: WMD6BE
Location: Île-de-France, France
Date Posted: 11/26/2011
Views: 43
Voltaire used the story of de la Barre as an example of Christian intolerance. In 1765, Roman Catholicism was the State religion. After a crucifix was vandalized in the French town of Abbeville, authorities searched for the culprits...and received a report that de la Barre and two others had not removed their hats during a religious procession. An investigation revealed that de la Barre had not only pornography at his home...but also another prohibited book-- Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary. De la Barre was tried for blasphemy and sentenced to death. On July first, he was first tortured, then had his tongue cut out..and was then beheaded. His body was then burned on a pyre along with Voltaire's tome.
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The statue depicts the young man standing with a long and opened coat. He is wearing a hat and a smaile.
The sculptor is Emmaanuel Ball and it is dated February 2001.