Louis August le Clerc

He was born in Metz, France to copperplate engraver Sebastian le Clerc and his wife Charlotte van den Kerckhove.

In Brühl he worked for Cologne's Archbishop and German Empire Prince Elector Clemens August von Wittelsbach.

Figure groups in wall niches in the upper vestibule sculpted by le Clerc are still extant.

He was summoned to Denmark in the summer of 1735 by King Christian VI to help with the interior decoration of Christiansborg Palace.

He was, along with Elias David Häusser and Nicolai Eigtved, one of the primary figures involved in the creation of Christiansborg.

Existing still to this day are wood carved vases in Christiansborg's horse stalls, and relief medallions on the side of the Marble Bridge (Marmorbro) that leads to the castle's main entrance.

Destroyed work from the castle includes the cornices, capitals and frames of the windows; carved wall panels, fireplaces and console tables in both the king's and the queen's suites; the golden dining room with buffet and chandelier; sculptures on the balustrade, and all sculpture work in the castle church.

In 1739 he created a fountain in the King's Garden (Kongens Have) at Rosenborg Castle representing a boy with a swan.

After Frederik V had summoned another French-born sculptor Jacques Saly to Denmark in 1752 to create a monumental equestrian statue of himself for the courtyard of Amalienborg Palace, le Clerc's importance went down and his production became small.

Louis August le Clerc.
Le Clerc's drawing for the frontispiece at Christiansborg Palace
Nicolai Eigtved 's drawing for the main portal door at Christiansborg Palace , carved by Le Clerc