Musée d'Orsay: What happened to the statues on the Valéry Giscard d'Estaing Esplanade?

If you've been near the Musée d'Orsay in recent days, you might have noticed something unusual. An absence that leaves the museum's forecourt notably empty... As of early December 2025, the Musée d'Orsay has removed the large sculptures that usually adorn the Valéry Giscard d'Estaing esplanade.

These monumental statues have been welcoming visitors to the museum since 1986. There are nine in total: an elephant, a rhinoceros, a horse, and sculptures representing the six continents. Originally, these sculptures were created to adorn the Trocadéro in 1878, during Paris's third World's Fair. Over a century later, they found a new home in front of the Musée d'Orsay to mark the opening of this iconic Parisian museum.

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Since the end of 2025, these sculptures have been missing! Rest assured, they haven't disappeared entirely. The Musée d'Orsay and its chief curator for sculpture and architecture, François Blanchetière, explain that the statues were temporarily removed to facilitate major renovations of the forecourt.

The Parisian institution kicked off a major renovation phase in spring 2025 to enhance visitor access to the museum. In a video posted by the museum, François Blanchetière announced that the statues are expected to be reinstalled by the course of 2027.

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Meanwhile, these statues will also undergo restoration: specialists will remove the protective paint coating, thoroughly clean the sculptures, treat the natural corrosion, and apply a new protective layer. Made of cast iron, these statues are naturally prone to rust and deterioration.

Will you miss these sculptures terribly? Here's some good news: a selection of them will be on display in Paris while waiting to return to their home at the Musée d'Orsay in 2027. The three animal statues will be temporarily installed at Jardin des Plantes after their restoration, so visitors and art enthusiasts can still enjoy their beauty in the meantime.