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Origin and history

The Clairon monument is a stone bust carved by Henri Gauquié, inaugurated in 1901 at Condé-sur-l'Escaut, in the department of the North. He paid tribute to Claire Josèphe Hippolyte Leris de Latude, known as Mademoiselle Clairon (1723-1803), a famous 18th-century tragedyist, member of the Comédie-Française and native of the commune. The monument, commissioned by the city, was designed by architect Henri Guillaume and sculptor Henri Gauquié, whose model was presented at the Salon des artistes français in 1898.

The inauguration took place on August 18, 1901, after a fundraising campaign including public grants, subscriptions and raffles. The monument, composed of a pedestal decorated with cartridges and putti, evokes the 18th century style. A polemic accompanied his erection because of the manners considered light by Mademoiselle Clairon, despite his status as Voltaire's privileged interpreter.

The garden and the wrought iron fence, marked by Art Nouveau, were designed by architect Edmond Lemaire and delivered in 1904. The grid, with lashing patterns, differs from the more conventional initial project. The monument, inscribed with historical monuments in 2007, stands in Place Saint-Amé, facing the city's theatre.

Mademoiselle Clairon, born in Condé-sur-l'Escaut in 1723, was a major figure in French theatre. Her career began in 1738 and she became a member of the Comédie-Française from 1743 to 1766. Voltaire considered her to be her best tragic interpreter. His influence extended to stage and dress conventions, revolutionizing the dramatic art of his time.

The original project of the monument was first proposed by the sculptor Jules-Louis Mabille and the architect Henri Guillaume, but the premature death of Mabille in 1897 led to the entrustment of the realization to Gauquié. The total cost, including the inauguration celebrations, rose to 7,682 francs, financed by grants and a public subscription.

The garden, divided by a straight aisle, is decorated with lawns and shrubs low. The fence, 155 cm high, alternate stands and wrought iron panels, with a door bearing the original 'C' of Clairon. The monument, with a total height of 524 cm, is a lasting tribute to an artist who marked the history of French theatre.

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