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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The monument to the dead of Dardilly, located in the communal cemetery, was realized by the sculptor Felix Dumas, assisted by Charles Yrondy. It is presented as a stele surrounded by a hexagonal barrier, combining two types of stone: the white and the Villebois stone. The stele bears two prominent inscriptions: on top, "Anti-war / To its victims / To the fraternity of the peoples", and below, "May the future console pain". These words reflect a rare pacifist and humanist will for the time.

The carved part includes two reliefs in yellow limestone, including a poignant scene depicting a woman and her child fleeing a burning house. This illustration evokes the suffering of civilians in the areas occupied during the First World War, a theme not common in monuments far from the front. Some historians, such as Mr. Henriot, also see it as an allegory of bruised France. At the back, the names of the dead soldiers are engraved, according to the tradition of memorials.

Félix Dumas, author of several monuments in the Rhone (such as those of Jullié or Saint-Georges-de-Reneins), particularly loved female figures with softness or pain. This monument, classified in 2019 with its masonry fence, bears witness to its talent to combine symbolism and emotion. The location in the cemetery highlights its role both memorial and funeral, anchored in the local landscape.

The choice of materials (the stone of Villebois and Comblanchien) and the artistic composition reflect a desire for sustainability and solemnity. The olive branch, another relief present, symbolizes peace, reinforcing the pacifist message of the monument. The work is thus part of an artistic and memory stream that goes beyond mere commemoration to question the human consequences of conflicts.

Owned by the commune of Dardilly (Département du Rhône), the monument has been officially protected since its registration as a Historical Monument in 2019. Its approximate address, 38 Avenue de Verdun, and its location in the cemetery make it an accessible place of collection, although its geographical accuracy is considered "a priori satisfactory" (note 6/10) according to the heritage databases.

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