Sculptures of Monaco: a walk along the Larvotto
We previously introduced you to the remarkable sculptures found in Fontvieille Park and Condamine area, however, the Principality also takes pride in other works of art lost in the shade of its trees. If you stroll around Monaco, you will easily find more than just one beautiful sculpture. Today we will tell you about the history of these statues, forever frozen in eternity.
Let’s start with a sculpture that represents the most iconic personality of the country – Princess Grace. Memories of her are scattered all around Monaco – she lives on in the names of streets and places, in sculptures and photographs.
One of the statues dedicated to the former Hollywood star can be found in the Larvotto beach area. This fairly new sculpture, called “Princess Grace” was a gift for the Principality from the Belgian community of Monaco. The piece was created by Stefan Depuydt and Livia Canestraro, two Flemish sculptors whose creations adorn the Belgian city of Bruges.
If you stroll along the Princess Grace Street in the Larvotto area, you will come across a statue of a fisherman. This is the work of Frenchman Dussard Gustave (1875 – 1952). He also created the sculptures that adorn the façade of the Monaco Oceanographic Museum.
The statue represents a man pulling his net from the depths of the sea. The “Fisherman” is a powerful nude style work that focuses on the concept of human effort.
If you continue your walk along the seafront, you’ll see the “Mantle of Consciousness” by Anna Chromy. Prince Albert II of Monaco officially presented this modern sculpture to the public in 2014. It is a gift to the Principality from the International German Club of Monaco on the occasion of their 40th anniversary. The sculpture represents Virgin Mary with no face, hidden under a white mantle. The Archbishop of Monaco himself consecrated the statue.
The sculpture is made of white marble. Its creator Anna Chromy claims that this is a mantle of our consciousness as it symbolizes harmony between man and nature. Chromy created a copy of the same piece in a much larger size: standing at 5 meters high, a man could fit inside! The idea was to create a space where one could retire with their thoughts in the shadows of the “mantle of consciousness”, restoring that delicate balance between the spiritual and the physical world too often compromised by our daily activities. A number of versions of Chromy’s sculpture can therefore be found in many different cities around the world.
The gardens of Larvotto also hide a Little Mermaid. This work by Christian Dalgard was created in 2000 and was a gift from the Danish community to Sovereign Rainier III of Monaco on the jubilee of his reign. In 1999, Rainier III celebrated the 50th anniversary of his rule over this tiny state in southern Europe.
Another interesting sculpture that you’ll surely notice is ‘Cornelia’, created by Belgian sculptor Stefan Depyudt, the same author of ‘Princesse Grace’. What is the idea behind this work of art? Each person should enjoy finding their own meaning in the ornate outlines of the marble statue.
The sculpture “Jean Baptiste, Monegasque” arrived in Monaco on December 16th 2003. You would surely recognize it. Smiling, happy and good-natured – that’s how every resident of Monaco should be, according to the sculptor Rashid Khimoune who created this remarkable bronze statue. You can meet the young, idyllic Monegasque at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
Towards the end of your seafront walk you will notice a monumental sculpture, the “Symbol of Time” created by the famous master Andre Boucher. This is a gift by the Swiss community of Monaco to Prince Rainier III in 2002 on the occasion of his jubilee.
The sculpture is made of stainless steel and bronze and bears important milestones of the Principality’s life during the reign of Rainier III. These include “Ascension to the Throne”, “Marriage to Grace Kelly”, “50th Anniversary of the Rule”, and “Creation of Fontvieille”.
It is represented in the form of a spiral, symbolizing our life and the unexpected turn of events that come with it – sometimes you stray from the straight path and go around, mimicking a spiral-like movement, descending then rising up again.
This is the nature of all the works by Andre Boucher who always explores the eternal, the unknown, as well as time and space. However he takes great care to merge his works of art with the surrounding environment, landscape, and people, intertwining them all harmoniously. “The Symbol of Time” rises high symbolizing the Principality’s key events over the last century.
As you admire the sculpture, a feeling of immovability and eternity washes over you while your gaze smoothly drifts to the blue of the Azure coast. Here the sculpture, the landscape and the atmosphere all come together like a perfect puzzle.
