Monument à la mémoire d'Antoine Durafour, Commemorative bust in Saint-Étienne, France
The Monument à la mémoire d'Antoine Durafour is a bronze bust set on a stone pedestal in central Saint-Étienne, France, made by sculptor Émile Tournayre. The bust portrays the face of the former mayor with a serious expression, and the bronze has developed a greenish patina over time.
Antoine Durafour served as mayor of Saint-Étienne in the 1930s and also held the positions of deputy and Minister of Labour; the monument was unveiled in 1934, shortly after his death. Tournayre, who lived in the city and produced several public works there, was commissioned to carry out the sculpture.
The monument stands on Place Anatole-France, also known locally as Place Badouillère, a gathering point for markets and local ceremonies. On commemorative days, residents sometimes lay flowers at the base and gather for short speeches in memory of Durafour.
The bust stands on Place Anatole-France in central Saint-Étienne and is easily visible from the surrounding walkways. It is freely accessible at all times, and visiting during daylight hours makes it easier to appreciate the details of the sculpted face.
Tournayre ran his workshop on Place Garibaldi, where he trained several young sculptors, among them Jean Cardot, who went on to become one of France's most recognized portrait sculptors. This local school of sculpture left a lasting mark on the public spaces of Saint-Étienne.
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