Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre (also called Bernardin de St. Pierre) (1737-1814) was a French writer and botanist. He is best known for his 1788 novel Paul et Virginie, now largely forgotten, but in the 19th century a very popular children's book. His portrait and the portraits of the main characters of the book are depicted in this monumental sculpture, which is located in the Jardin de Plantes in Paris.