Statues - Hither & Thither

 

Description

In front of a 22 meters high concrete stele, with at its base by a set of bas-reliefs, stands a 6 meters high statue of the Motherland, expressing youth and serenity, at the same time as strength. Standing in front of vines and ears of corn, she leans in a confident gesture on a large sword.
Monument designed by Paul Bellemain (1886-1953).

Originally, the monument stood on Place d'Arsonval and visible from all sides. At the reconstruction of the square it was replaced about 15 meters, with its back so close to a wall, that the relief on the back side nowadays are hardly visible.

The north and south side of the base have a protruding part, making the monument more or less cross-shaped, therefor are twelve faces with reliefs. These reliefs represent the various members of the Military Health Service at work, "carefully detailing army corps uniforms as well as the civilian and religious clothes of nurses who are busy with zeal with the soldiers. Secondary scenes are devoted to medicine (radiography, dental surgery, vaccination, pharmacy) as well as the armies of Asia and Africa."

East (Front): hospital soldiers and sisters holding a stretcher, from which a cloth hangs with a cross and the Rod of Asclepius

North (left part): sisters gives soldiers to drink

North (perpendicular left): kneeling man

North (center): persons with red cross dog

North (perpendicular right): sitting figure

North (right part): dentist

West: since there is only about 1 to 1.5 meters, it is impossible to make good photos of this relief

South (left part): Medical soldiers in East Asia

South (perpendicular left): Medical soldiers in Africa

South (center): sisters with wounded soldiers and a dog

South (perpendicular right): two persons

South (right part): sisters nursing wounded soldiers.

Inscription(s)

A LA GLOIRE DU SERVICE DE SANTÉ

Signature

Old Postcard(s)

 
Click on the thumbnail for an enlargement.

Sculptor

• Louis Bertola (Borgosesia, Piemonte 1891 - Saint-Martin-de-Ré, Charente-Maritime 1973), French sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

• Université de Lille, Les monuments aux morts, France-Belgique.
• Université de Lille, Monument aux morts de Lyon 8e (Grange Blanche), Monument à la gloire du service de santé militaire (PDF on-line).
• Lyon Monplaisir, Maurice Charras, Guerres.

Tags

• Town: Lyon
• Département: Rhône
• Région: Rhône-Alpes
• Country: France
• Bertola, Louis
• Dentist
• France (allegory)
• Nurse and patient
• Soldier
• War Memorial (France - various)

Locatie (N 45°44'33" - E 4°52'39") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

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