Initial plans 1920 (≈ 1920)
Sartorio drew up the first sketches of the monument.
1922
Inauguration
Inauguration 1922 (≈ 1922)
The monument is officially unveiled.
28 décembre 2021
MH classification
MH classification 28 décembre 2021 (≈ 2021)
Total protection of the monument and plot.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The monument to the dead, in total, located at the Marc-Seguin quai, on plot n°115, section AL of the cadastre, with the hexagonal plot and its obelisks facing the monument, not cadastral, which appear in red on the plan annexed to the decree: classification by order of 28 December 2021
Key figures
Gabriel Faure - Initiator and Writer
Choose the location and mobilize the artists.
Paul Tournon - Architect
Designs the structure of the monument.
Antoine Sartorio - Sculptor
Realize the relief and the Victory.
Origin and history
The monument to the dead of Tournon-sur-Rhône, erected in the first half of the twentieth century, is a monumental work of 11.7 meters high, designed by architect Paul Tournon and sculptor Antoine Sartorio. It is divided into two parts: a relief integrated with the support wall of the Rohan-Soubise castle and a hexagonal plot with two obelisks, located on the other side of the Marc Seguin wharf. The location, chosen by the writer Gabriel Faure, aims to mark visitors and honour the memory of the soldiers who died during the First World War.
The archives of the castle-museum of Tournon-sur-Rhône preserve the plans of the monument, drawn in 1920 by Sartorio. The inauguration took place in 1922. The sketches reveal the evolution of the allegorical figure of the Victory, initially feminine, which masculinizes throughout the project. This sculpture integrates with the remains of the castle, symbolizing a homage transcending individuals. The monument, classified entirely in 2021, also includes the plot and its obelisks, not cadastral but protected.
The work is part of a desire for collective memory, reinforced by its visibility from the Rhône and the Marc Seguin Bridge. Gabriel Faure, Inspector General of Fine Arts and a local figure, plays a key role in mobilizing renowned artists. Sartorio, known for his collaborations in Marseille (monument to the dead of the army of Orient) or in Paris (Palais de Chaillot), brings a major artistic dimension. Tournon, architect of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Paris, designs a structure harmonized with the historic site.
The monument to the dead of Tournon-sur-Rhône illustrates the post-war period in France, where the communes erected tributes to fallen soldiers. Its integration into the castle and its landscaped setting reflect a desire to link glorious past and national mourning. Materials and symbolism (rock, Victoire) highlight the permanence of memory, while the hexagonal plot offers a public gathering space.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review