Monument aux morts de Port-Vendres, War memorial sculpture in Port-Vendres, France.
The Monument aux morts de Port-Vendres is a bronze sculpture by Aristide Maillol depicting a reclining female figure holding olive branches. Located at Place de l'Obélisque facing the harbor, the work measures approximately 1.65 meters (5.4 ft) in height and 2.25 meters (7.4 ft) in width.
The sculpture was commissioned in 1919 and inaugurated in 1923 as a tribute to those who died from the port town during World War I. It emerged during the postwar period when many French communities sought monumental tributes to remember their fallen.
The reclining female form with olive branches symbolizes hope and the desire for peace, serving as a focal point for remembrance in the port town. Her dignified posture creates a contemplative mood that invites visitors to pause and reflect.
The monument sits on a public plaza accessible year-round at no charge to visitors. The open setting means the best viewing comes during daylight hours, and the surrounding area offers natural shelter from wind near the port structures.
A bronze replica of this monument has stood in the Carrousel Garden near the Louvre Museum in Paris since 1964. This second version brings Maillol's work to the capital and reflects the significance of the original for French art history.
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