The Monument à la République (), also called Statue de la République (), is a Monumental sculpture, made by the sculptor Léopold Morice. Inaugurated in 1883 on the Place de la République in Paris, it represents Marianne, an allegory of the republic.
History On 10 May 1891, Pierre Martinet—founder of individualist anarchism—organized a rally to honor the victims of the Fourmies massacre, an event that had occurred on the same day as the Clichy affair nine days earlier. During the gathering, anarchists laid floral wreaths at the base of the monument.
Due to its proximity to working-class neighborhoods, the square and monument became frequent venues for protest, particularly by the French left. However, its use as a protest venue significantly increased after 2013, when the roundabout which surrounded the monument was removed and replaced by a pedestrian esplanade as part of a larger scheme to make the Place de la République more accessible to public use. The architects in charge of the plan hoped to allow Parisians to "sit on the lap of the Republic". Since then, the monument has frequently been scaled by protesters and defaced by graffiti, necessitating regular and costly cleaning and repairs. In September 2015, a Techno Parade reveler fell to his death from the monument. In August 2016, the statue had its first comprehensive cleaning since its erection. In 2026, the municipal government of Ariel Weil proposed that the statue be fenced and surrounded by greenery in order to dissuade defacement, as part of a greater anti-graffiti campaign.
Description The monument is located in the center of the Place de la République, at the tripoint between the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements.
The bronze statue is 9.5 m high on a 15.5 m stone pedestal with a diameter of 13 m at ground level. The pedestal is decorated with 3 statues each representing one of the 3 words of the french motto, liberty, equality, fraternity. Around the pedestal, under those statues, are a group of 12 high reliefs in bronze representing significant dates for the French Republic. A bronze statue of a lion symbolizing universal suffrage is at the foot of the monument. A fountain was added in 2013 at ground level.
Statue de la République
The top of the pedestal is occupied by a 9.5 m high statue of Marianne, symbolizing the Republic. She is represented standing, wearing a toga and a baldric on which is mounted a sword. She is dressed at the same time with a Phrygian cap, symbol of liberty and a plant crown.
In her right hand, the statue bears an olive branch, a peace symbol. Her left hand rests on a tablet with the inscription "human rights" ().
The bronzes were cast by in 1883.
Pedestal The pedestal was made by the architect , the brother of the sculptor. It consists of two distinct cylindrical parts: one about 4 m high; the other above it, longer and narrower. The higher part holds the Marianne and is decorated under her feet by a bronze garland, the coat of arms of Paris, and the inscription "to the glory of the French Republic - the city of Paris - 1883" ().
Around the column are three stone statues, each one an allegory of a word of the French motto.
La Liberté is seated to the left of the Republic. She wears a torch in her left hand, her right hand rests on her knee holding a broken chain. In the background, an oak is sculpted in relief in the column. L'Égalité is seated to the right. She holds the flag of the Republic in her right hand, whose pole is marked with the initials "R.F."; in her left hand she holds a carpenter level, a symbol of equality. La Fraternité, behind Marianne, is represented by a woman casting her caring gaze on two children reading a book, an allegory of knowledge. A sheaf of wheat and a bouquet evoke abundance.
Two medallions marked with Labor and Pax, decorated with fasces are found on the sides.
High reliefs The stone pedestal is surrounded with twelve high reliefs in bronze, made by Léopold Morice. Connected with rosettes and arranged at eye level, they constitute a chronology of events marking the history of the French Republic, between 1789 and 1880 :
ImageDateÉvénement20 June 1789Tennis Court Oath14 July 1789Storming of the Bastille4 August 1789Abolition of feudalism14 July 1790Fête de la Fédération11 July 1792Proclamation of « La Patrie en danger »20 September 1792Battle of Valmy21 September 1792Proclamation of the abolition of the monarchy1 June 1794Glorious First of June29 July 1830July Revolution4 March 1848Adoption of the universal male suffrage4 September 1870Proclamation of the 3rd French Republic14 July 1880First Bastille Day
Lion
A 3 m tall bronze lion is located at ground level beside an urn labeled "universal suffrage" ().
Notes and references 1. It is the opposite of the representation of the Statue of Liberty by Auguste Bartholdi from the same period, which holds the torch in her right hand and has a broken chain at her feet. 2.Sometimes attributed by mistake to Jules Dalou. 3.The process in fact extends over the sessions of March 2 and March 4, where the principle of universal suffrage is accepted, then the decree is adopted on March 5. 4.It is sometimes said that it represents the abolition of slavery but this is a confusion with the decree of the Provisional Government of the that institutes the "commission pour préparer, dans le plus bref délai, l'acte d'émancipation immédiate dans toutes les colonies de la République" and named Victor Schœlcher as its president but the decree that really abolishes slavery dates from the .