Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The idea of raising a monument in honor of Frédéric Mistral emerged from the 1880s. The poet himself participates in the choice of location and collaborates with the sculptors Théodore Rivière and Claude Férigoule for its realization. This project is part of a desire to celebrate the Provençal culture, of which Mistral was a major ambassador thanks to his literary work and his commitment to the local language.

In 1942, under the occupation, the bronze statue was melted on order of the Ministry of Industrial Production, as part of the metal requisitions. Only the head, cut and rescued by the Marseille scrapman Mugnani, escapes destruction. This disappearance symbolizes the loss of heritage during the Second World War, affecting even civilian monuments.

The reconstruction of the monument is based on the original model preserved. The new statue, faithful to the spirit of the original project, was inaugurated in 1948 on the Forum Square in Arles. This place, the historic heart of the ancient city, strengthens the link between Mistral, the Renaissance d-oc figure, and the Arlesian heritage. The monument is now fully protected by a 2009 decree, reflecting its symbolic and artistic value.

The sculptors Théodore Rivière and Claude Férigoule, although less well known than Mistral, play a key role in the materialization of this tribute. Their work, marked by a realistic and regionalist style, is part of the tradition of early 20th century memorials, where art is used to perpetuate the memory of the great local figures.

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