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Carhaix-Plouguer
Finistère
Bretagne

Place de La Tour d'Auvergne

Théophile-Malo de La Tour d'Auvergne-Corret

Carhaix 1743 - Oberhausen, Bayern, 1800
French officer and a celtomaniac antiquarian
(Wikipedia)

Carlo Marochetti
Fonderie Saint-Denis
1841

Carhaix-Plouguer / Théophile-Malo de La Tour d'Auvergne-Corret

Description

Bronze statue of De la Tour d'Auvergne holding his sword in his left hand with his bearskin, haversack and rifle at his feet. On the pedestal are four bronze reliefs depicting scenes from De la Tour d'Auvergne's life:

Rescuing a wounded officer.
The depicted scene refers to a feat of La Tour d'Auvergne, who in the winter 1781-82 under heavy enemy fire took a wounded Catalan officer over his shoulders. Confronted with his bravery, the British suspended their fire and hail.
The taking of Fort-Barreau.
The battle represented is the taking of Fort Bar, in the night of 21 to 22 September 1792, causing the surrender of Chambery and the annexation of Savoy to France.
Leaving the Brigant family in Pontrieux.
La Tour d'Auvergne is shown here leaving Pontrieux (Côtes d'Armor), according to popular tradition, to replace in the army the youngest son of his friend, lawyer Le Brigant. Although widespread, this version is imaginary because at the time La Tour d'Auvergne was in Paris.
The Death of De la Tour d'Auvergne.
On 27 June 1800, La Tour d'Auvergne replaced Colonel Forty as commander of his regiment, the 46th Infantry Regiment, in Oberhausen (Germany). He died by a lance during a melee that took place on the top of the hill.

1. Rescuing a wounded officer	2. The taking of Fort-Barreau
3. Leaving the Brigant family in Pontrieux	4. The Death of De la Tour d'Auvergne

Inscription(s)

latour d'auvergne
1^er grenadier de france
né à carhaix
le 23 décembre 1743,
mort au champ d'honneur,
le 27 juin 1800.

celui qui meurt
dans une lutte sacrée
trouve pour le repos
une patrie,
même sur la terre
étrangère.

tant de talens
et de vertus
appartiennent a l'histoire
mais il appartenait
au premier consul
de la devancer.

ecrivain, citoyen, soldat
sa vie toujours
glorieusement remplie
na laisse que
de sublimes exemples
à la posterité

Signed: C, Marochetti Sc. 1840
s^t denis, fondeur a paris 1841

Annotation

Unveiled 27 June 1841, with two reliefs on the pedestal. The two other sides of the pedestal had coats of arms, these were removed in 1848 and replaced by an inscription in Breton. In 1854 the two final reliefs were placed.

Old Postcard(s)

Click on the thumbnail for an enlargement.

Sculptor

Baron Carlo (Charles) Marochetti (Turin 1805 - Passy 1867) Italian-French sculptor, born in Turin, but raised in Paris as a French citizen (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

e-Monumen.net, le patrimoine monumental français en France et à l'étranger.
Topic Topos, Patrimoine des communes de France.

Locatie (N 48°16'32" - W 3°34'16") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: frbr070; Photograph: 29 May 2012
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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