Once in a while you find yourself in a place where you turn a corner and are astonished by what you see. I live for those moments. Whether it’s a meadow of wildflowers, a mural that brightens an alleyway or anything else that’s out of the ordinary, I’m all in for these experiences. At the library in Piqua, Ohio, there’s a life-sized statue of Joan of Arc that sits, unceremoniously, in a corner. 

I entered this space to admire the beautiful light streaming through the windows. Imagine my delight when I turned to see her.

Created by Henri Chapu in 1872, this is a plaster copy of the original by the Caproni Brothers of Boston. The tag next to her says that this piece appeared in their 1914 catalog. It was purchased and presented to Piqua High School by the Class of 1917. She was exhibited at the high school for many years. 

Sadly, her identity was lost at some point and she became the “Squaw” to go with the Indian statue that was exhibited in the high school lobby before moving to storage. The tag tells us that she was discovered in the basement of the Board of Education Office, brought to the library, and restored by the Piqua High School Art Club. It was during the restoration they discovered her identity. 

There is a lot to unpack here. First of all, the library inherited several pieces of artwork when the old school closed. That’s how they have so many interesting things to enjoy. 

Second, she’s beautiful. I have read that Henri Chapu was a classical sculptor who explored bringing elegance and naturalism to his work. This piece was especially popular among the nineteenth century French who were fascinated by Joan of Arc.The original marble statue can be viewed at Musee d’Orsay in Paris along with other works by this artist. 

It’s worthwhile to note here that the Caproni Brothers were famous for their work manufacturing plaster copies of classical and contemporary statues. These pieces were largely created for educational purposes to give people access to art and antiquities they otherwise might never see. They are mostly found at major universities and other places with more wealth. To have one in a local high school was kind of a big deal and it’s still a big deal to have access to this piece today. 

I’m thrilled that she was kept safe all those years but, golly wow, what abuse and neglect she endured. Hundreds of years before Piqua, Ohio was a place to find on a map, Joan of Arc died at the age of 19 after overcoming gender roles to become the defender of France. She’s a patron saint of France. It seems like we should remember her name, tell her stories, honor her significance and not call her “Squaw.”

Luckily, she’s out amongst the living today and in a place that will keep her safe. I’m hoping the librarians tell her tales, encouraging young girls and women to be the hero of their own stories.