CORDIER, Nicolas
(b. ca. 1567, Saint-Mihiel, d. 1612, Roma)

Statue of Pope Paul V

1611-14
Bronze
Piazza Cavour, Rimini

Cordier also produced models for casting in bronze, which demonstrate both freedom and finesse in their handling. In 1604 he made the grille for the principal altar in St Peter's (in situ, but rearranged). His colossal bronze statues of Henry IV of France (1606-09; Rome, San Giovanni in Laterano) and Paul V (1611-14; Rimini, Piazza Cavour), with their lively gestures and meticulous treatment of contrasting surface detail, are among his most impressive works.

The statue on Piazza Cavour dates back to 1613 but its current headdress was restored only in 1890. In fact, fearing retaliation by the Napoleonic army, in 1800 the original tiara was replaced with the mitre and the inscription was replaced with another indicating the figure represented San Gaudenzio di Rimini, patron saint of Rimini, not a pontiff.