Monument de Paul Deschanel
MonumentHidden Treasure
Face à l'hôtel de ville de Nogent-le-Rotrou, ce monument en marbre à Paul Deschanel — unique président de la République à avoir démissionné — réunit une statuaire allégorique saisissante signée du sculpteur Ernest Dubois.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
At the busy crossroads of rue Sully and rue Villette-Gâté, a stone's throw from Nogent-le-Rotrou town hall, stands one of the most moving memorials in the Eure-et-Loir department. The full-length figure of Paul Deschanel dominates a stone pedestal adorned with two finely chiselled allegorical figures - France and Eloquence - draped in an antique style reminiscent of the great sculptural ensembles of the Belle Époque. This monument is unique in more ways than one. It honours Paul Deschanel, an exceptional politician who represented Nogent-le-Rotrou and its arrondissement for more than three decades, before becoming President of the Republic in 1920 - and resigning a few months later in circumstances that have remained famous. The work, created by sculptor Ernest Dubois and architect René Patouillard-Demoriane, elegantly combines the nobility of marble for the statue and the solidity of stone for the plinth. Visiting the site is a topographical surprise: the monument is set on a steep slope, and can be viewed from a variety of angles as you walk up or down the rue Sully. This belvedere position gives Deschanel's silhouette a sovereign and slightly theatrical appearance - as if the great man, facing the town hall, had been addressing his fellow citizens for almost a century. The original staircase is still intact, and you can climb a few steps to read the signatures engraved on the base: "Ernest Dubois Statuaire / Patouillard de Moriane Arch". The urban setting of Nogent-le-Rotrou, a medieval town dominated by the castle of the Counts of Perche, provides an ideal backdrop for this classic monument. Nearby, the town hall and the narrow streets of the historic centre provide a pleasant extension to the visit. Listed as a Historic Monument in April 2025, this monument is now receiving the national recognition it deserves.
Architecture
The monument is made up of two distinct, complementary elements: a sober, monumental limestone base designed by René Patouillard-Demoriane, and a white marble statue by Ernest Dubois. This choice of material - the permanence of stone for the architectural base, the nobility of marble for the human figure - is characteristic of the memorials of the Belle Époque and the 1920s, heirs to the academic vocabulary of the 19th century. The statue depicts Paul Deschanel full-length, in the posture of a firm and confident orator, his legs firmly planted, his gaze directed towards the town hall, where he was for many years the main parliamentary interlocutor. At the junction of the pedestal and the plinth, two allegorical figures of great sculptural quality - France and Eloquence - rise in high relief, draped in antique style in a neoclassical tradition that recalls the models of the École des Beaux-Arts. These female allegories, with their flowing drapery and expressive poses, give the ensemble a strong symbolic dimension, celebrating both the fatherland and the oratorical talent for which Deschanel was famous. The topographical location of the monument merits particular attention: situated at the intersection of the rue Sully and the rue Villette-Gâté, on a steep incline, it is slightly elevated, accentuated by the original steps that have been preserved. This arrangement creates a belvedere effect which, despite being only partially visible from the street, gives the building an undeniable urban presence. The signatures of the two authors are engraved at the base of the pedestal, a rare and precious testimony to the integrity of the work.
Related Figures
Paul Deschanel (1855-1922) — député de Nogent-le-Rotrou pendant plus de trente ans, président de l'Assemblée nationale, président de la République en 1920Ernest Dubois (1863-1930) — sculpteur académique, auteur de la statue en marbre et des figures allégoriquesRené Patouillard-Demoriane (1869-1957) — architecte, concepteur du socle en pierreGaston Doumergue — président de la République, membre d'honneur du comité du monumentRaymond Poincaré — président du Conseil, membre d'honneur du comité du monumentJustin de Selves — président du Sénat, membre d'honneur du comité du monumentMaréchal Philippe Pétain — membre d'honneur du comité du monument
