“Statue of Napoleon in Rouen, it is respect for our history that is at stake”
TRIBUNE – The mayor PS of Rouen proposes to replace the statue of Napoleon, in front of the Town hall, by that of a woman, for example Gisèle Halimi. This is indeed an illustration of the “culture of cancellation” taking place in the United States, deplores the historian, director of the Napoleon Foundation.
Associate professor at the Catholic Institute of Higher Studies (Ices) of La Roche-sur-Yon. Last published work: “Pour Napoléon” (Ed. Perrin, 2021, 213 p., € 15).
It has been almost 150 years since the people of Rouen were used to seeing an equestrian statue of Napoleon Iuh in front of their Town Hall, on the current Place Charles-de-Gaulle. But since July 2020, the monumental pedestal on which this work by sculptor Gabriel Vital-Dubray (1813-1892) dominates the premises has been orphaned. The statue was indeed removed and entrusted for restoration to the specialists of the Coubertin foundry in Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse.
Fifteen months later, she would be ready to resume her place if the socialist mayor of Rouen, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, did not wish to replace with the effigy of another figure, preferably female. He also suggested that it be Gisèle Halimi. As for Napoleon, the mayor of Rouen could easily see him centered on the island Lacroix, at the foot of the Corneille bridge.
This article is for subscribers only. You have 83% left to discover.
Freedom is also to go to the end of a debate.
Continue reading your article for € 1 the first month
Already subscribed? Log in
