Monument aux Morts de Montauban, War memorial at Cours Foucault, Montauban, France.
The Monument aux Morts of Montauban is a bronze sculpture standing at Cours Foucault that depicts victorious France. The composition includes allegorical figures representing law and intelligence, along with a columned hall and an altar below.
In 1895 the Société des anciens combattants de Montauban launched a competition for a memorial to the Franco-German War of 1870; Bourdelle's first model, shown in 1896, was received coldly. Rodin's intervention in 1897 let him build it without compromise. The first stone was laid on 29 October 1897, the monument reached Montauban on 14 August 1902 and was inaugurated on 14 September. It was moved to place Bourdelle in 1970.
Bourdelle's monument commemorates the combatants and defenders of Tarn-et-Garonne in the 1870-1871 Franco-German War, not later conflicts. Its full artistic title, Monument aux combattants et défenseurs du Tarn-et-Garonne de 1870-1871, appears in the sources. The work was received with praise from the progressive press and criticism from conservatives at its 1902 inauguration.
The monument sits in a central plaza in the city center and is easily accessible on foot. The surrounding area offers other attractions and dining options, making it simple to incorporate into a walking tour.
Bourdelle priced the project at 50,000 francs, far above the 13,000 francs set by the programme, but agreed to accept only that sum. The first stone was laid on 29 October 1897, and the monument reached Montauban on 14 August 1902, inaugurated on 14 September. In 1905 Bourdelle reworked the head of the great warrior to create his Masque d'Hercule.
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