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Origin and history

The house located at 5 Rue Massillon in Riom, built in the 1st quarter of the 18th century, is a notable historical monument for its niche housing a statue of Saint-Jean-Baptiste. This statue commemorates the ancient Saint John Baptistery, formerly close to the place. The house was said to have belonged to the Prior-curé of Saint John, emphasizing its link with local religious history. The niche, decorated with braided foliage, bears the date of 1722, engraved above the representation of the Precursor, accompanied by its traditional attributes.

The protection of this monument concerns specifically the niche and its statuette, inscribed by decree of 6 April 1929. The work reflects early 18th-century religious art in Auvergne, where stylized plant decorations and biblical references were common. The facade and stairway, the architectural elements mentioned, fit in the classical style of the era, marked by a sober but symbolic ornamentation.

Riom, the historic city of Auvergne, was a major religious and administrative centre under the Old Regime. The houses of this period, like this one, often served as residences for ecclesiastical or local dignitaries. Their preservation is a testimony to the cultural and artistic practices of the region, where the Church played a central role in everyday life and urban planning. The statue of Saint John the Baptist, in particular, recalls the importance of local cults and pilgrimages, frequent in Auvergne at that time.

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