Statues - Hither & Thither

 

Description

Bust of Gailleton in a kind of triumphal arch with the text "A GAILLETON, LA VILLE DE LYON". In front of the bust is a marble sculpture of a man showing a large plan for the 'embellissement' of Lyon to a seated woman representing the town of Lyon (she has the Lyon coat of arms standing against her knee).

In front of the arch are some steps, with on the outer side of the parapets reliefs showing allegorical figures of Science and Progress. The figure of science has in the background the construction of the university building. Progress is shown with a torch and a view of the old Grôlée quarter - 'the old street does not embody heritage, as today's spectators might believe. Progress is about to set fire to the place.'

Progress with a view of the Grôlée quarter

Science and the construction of the university building

Inscription(s)

ce monument a ete eleve par la ville de lyon A Antoine GAILLETON ne a lyon le 17 novembre 1829 decede le 9 octobre 1904 — chirurgien en chef de l'antiquaille professeur de clinique a la faculte de medecine de lyon grand officier de la legion d'honneur — MAIRE DE LYON de 1881 a 1900 —

Signature

Sculptor

• André-César Vermare (Lyon 1869 - Īle de Bréhat 1949), French sculptor. His statue 'Jeanne d'Arc au sacre' was by Pope Pius X in 1909 appointed as the offical statue for the beatification of Jeanne d'Arc. The marble statue was placed in the French national church in Rome. Many factories made replicas of the statue, usually in plaster (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

• Wikipedia, Liste des œuvres publiques de Lyon.
• Wikipedia, Place Gailleton.
• Petit Patrimoine, search form.
• Le Guichet du savoir, Patrimoine lyonnais.
• Dario Gamboni, The Destruction of Art: Iconoclasm and Vandalism Since the French Revolution (1997), p. 230-231.
• Daniel F. Valot, Jeux et Photos de Lyon, Statues and Sculptures.

Tags

Locatie (N 45°45'12" - E 4°49'58") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Your banner here? Click for information.