Sculptpedia Statues, Busts and Sculptures Park sculptures and installations Ancient World & Antiquity Middle Ages & Renaissance Marble & Other Stones Bronze & Other Metals

Statue of the Volunteer of 1792

The Statue of the Volunteer of 1792 is a statue created in 1899 by the sculptor Paul-François Choppin. It was made to honor the civic spirit of the inhabitants of the Remiremont district, who sent the first volunteers to defend the nation in 1792. The statue stands at the intersection of rue Charles-de-Gaulle and rue de la Xavée in Remiremont, in the Vosges department. The statue and its pedestal have been listed as historical monuments. The pedestal bears the inscriptions “Un volontaire de 1792” on one side and “Don de l'État 1899” on another.

Statue of the Volunteer of 1792, a bronze soldier in a tricorne hat standing on a stone pedestal with one foot on a cannon.
The Volunteer of 1792 in Remiremont, shown as a bronze soldier atop a stone pedestal.
August 2005 © · CC BY 2.5
Statue of the Volunteer of 1792, a bronze soldier holding a rifle and raising one arm on a stone pedestal.
The Statue of the Volunteer of 1792 rises above a reddish stone pedestal against a blue sky.
May 2012 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Statue of the Volunteer of 1792 on a tall stone pedestal in a city square, with historic buildings behind it.
The Statue of the Volunteer of 1792 stands in a paved square in Remiremont.
June 2022 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Statue of the Volunteer of 1792 on a stone pedestal in a cobblestone plaza, with buildings and parked cars nearby.
The Statue of the Volunteer of 1792 stands in a cobblestone square surrounded by historic buildings in Remiremont.
May 2022 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Statue of the Volunteer of 1792 on a pedestal beside a cobblestone street with arched arcades and pedestrians.
The Statue of the Volunteer of 1792 stands along a street in Remiremont, shown here in a vintage postcard view with arcaded buildings nearby.
November 2010 © AnonymousUnknown author · Licence Ouverte

Identification

TitleStatue du Volontaire de l'an II
Alternative titleStatue du Volontaire de 1792
TypeStatue

Creator

ArtistPaul-François Choppin
Stamp designerLouis Arquer

Historical context

Date created1899
General Humbert appointmentAppointed Brigadier General on 9 April 1794 at age 26
General Humbert enlistment date10 August 1792

Iconography and meaning

Associated personGeneral Humbert, a native of Saint-Nabord, emerged from the ranks of these first volunteers
SubjectHonors the civic spirit of the inhabitants of the Remiremont district who sent the first volunteers to defend the endangered homeland in 1792
HonoreeThe first volunteers from the district of Remiremont

Location and ownership

City emblem statusHas become the emblem of Remiremont
LocationIntersection of Rue Charles-de-Gaulle and Rue de la Xavée, Remiremont, Vosges, France

History and restoration

Historic monument listing date27 February 1996
Protected statusStatue and base listed as a historic monument
Stamp issue date15 May 1995
Stamp issuerLa Poste
Stamp denomination2.80 francs
Stamp dedicationRemiremont
First-day issueA first-day card and envelope were issued for the 15 May 1995 stamp
Bibliographic referenceCharles Vosgien, Le Livre d'or des familles de Remiremont. Victimes de la Révolution. Volontaires de 1792, printed by V. Collot, Épinal, 1889, 32 pages
Exhibition/catalogue reference"L'Enrôlement des volontaires de 1792" in Thomas Couture, 1815–1879: les artistes au service de la patrie en danger, Musée départemental de l'Oise, Beauvais, 1989

Materials

Base inscriptions"Un volontaire de 1792"; "Don de l'État 1899"

Significance

Depicted on stampFeatured in the foreground on a La Poste stamp dedicated to Remiremont
Later commemorative stampIn 2009, a personalized stamp designed by the town hall of Remiremont again honored the Volunteer, showing it from the front