From King Louis XIV to Art Basel: The History of Place Vendôme

The German artist Carsten Höller believes that his “Giant Triple Mushroom” sculpture — which will be exhibited in Place Vendôme as part of the public programming for Art Basel Paris, open to the public Oct. 18-20, and on display until Nov. 24 — is “in some sort of dialogue” with the Parisian square.

“I want you to imagine what kind of conversation they would have if they would speak to each other,” he wrote in an email.

The tales Place Vendôme could tell would be enthralling, as this is not the first time the square has become an outdoor art gallery. Paul McCarthy’s green “Tree,” installed in 2014, was sabotaged when the supporting cables were cut. In 2021 Alexander Calder’s “Flying Dragon” (1975) was mounted next to Napoleon’s column to celebrate the opening of Gagosian’s new gallery at the Rue de Castiglione, and last year Urs Fischer’s powerful silver “Wave” (2018) took over the square to much fanfare.

The square is not a dusty museum, said Clément Delépine, the director of Art Basel Paris. “Place Vendôme was destroyed and built new,” he said. “It’s still very much used, it’s very active and, although it’s a place of patrimony, it’s also very much contemporary. And that’s the point of the public program.”

Origins of Place Vendôme

The land where Place Vendôme now sits was originally owned by César, Duke of Vendôme. At the end of the 17th century, the French architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, who designed the Grand Trianon at the Palace of Versailles, was commissioned to create a grand octagonal square to celebrate the victories of King Louis XIV’s armies.