Le Baiser de la Gloire

Axel  SELLIER & Mathis COUTAUD write...

This sculpture was made by Raymond Léon Rivoire. Raymond Léon Rivoire is a French sculptor; he was born in Cusset on the 21^st October 1884 and died in Paris on the 27^th September 1966.

This sculpture is dated 1907. At first, this statue was a tribute to the poet Albert Samain (1858-1900). It was presented at the 1907 Salon with the name of “Communion suprême”, but was rejected by its sponsors. In 1915, it was bought by the state for 12,000 Francs and put in the “Dépot des marbres”.

In 1923, Etienne Clementel, the Lord Mayor of Riom, asked that the statue be brought to his town to be used as a memorial to the dead of the First World War.

It’s a large statue made of white marble. It represents a female angel kissing a man who is about to die. The man has a shroud draped over his body.

The red point on the map below indicates where the statue can be found; it is in the forecourt of the town hall (the Hôtel de Ville).

The red dot on the map shows the location of the statue:

We asked several local people what they think of this statue:

Corinne, 41, looking at a photo of the work: “This statue is extraordinary! I never noticed this statue in Riom, but I think I will go and see it the next time I’m in town.”

Bernadette, 68: I see this statue every morning on my way to the bakery. This is an old statue I think. I would like to know more about it…”

Lucie, 15: “It’s very “pure,” do you know what I mean? It’s all white and very emotional; the angel looks at the man so lovingly. You can imagine what she’s saying: “Don’t be afraid of death, I will see you soon in paradise…””

Mathis, 8: It’s nice. Can we sit on it? I like the angel, she’s got really big wings!

The Angel sings a song to the dying man: “You are not alone, I am here with you, don’t be frightened, I won’t leave you, soon we will meet again in Paradise…”

Juliette RICHARD & Eva SCIAUVAUD add...

Le Baiser de la Gloire has been exposed in the courtyard of the city hall of Riom since it was brought from Paris in 1923 at the request of Etienne Clémentel, the mayor.

The city hall, also called 'Hôtel de Cériers', was built around 1520-1540. Its large proportions show the high status of the man who built it, Amable de Cériers, an upper-middle class person of Riom and chamberlain to the Duke of Bourbon. The city hall is composed of four parts surrounding a courtyard where the statue Le Baiser de la Gloire is located, under the arcades.

The entrance to Riom town hall

The sculptor of Le Baiser de la Gloire is Raymond Léon Rivoire. He was born in a bourgeois family in 1884 in Cusset, a little city in the center of France. He studied in the Paris Beaux-Arts School and he was the apprentice of Injalbert. After having exposed in the salon of the French artists, he received a gold medal in 1929. He also exposed in London, Rome and Buenos Aires. His major work is La Diane au Lévrier which is exposed in the Louvre museum. Rivoire died in 1966.

Le Baiser de la Gloire is a work of 1907. It is made of Carrara white marble. This sculpture has been used as a memorial to the Great War (1914-1918) since the 1920s. It was originally a funeral sculpture ordered by the family of the poet Albert Samain (1858-1900). The angel is a muse; she leans over the man. The muse wants to give a last kiss before the man dies. In 1907, the sculpture was presented at the Salon under the title Communion Suprême. For an unknown reason, this sculpture was refused by Albert Samain’s family. So it was bought by the State in 1915 for 12,000 francs and received a bronze medal at the Salon in 1920.

In 1923, the work was brought to Riom and renamed Le Baiser de la Gloire. The muse became the figure of Glory giving the kiss of peace on the forehead of the dead soldier and wrapping him in her wings. So this statue became a war memorial. On the wall next to the sculpture are written the names of all the men and all the women of Riom who died during the First World War (1914-1918). The man of the statue obviously represents all the men and women whose names are written on the wall.

Map of Riom in the 1920s

Interviews of local people

First person: I know the name of the sculptor and the place where it is. This statue is really wonderful. When my family comes to see me and we go outside, I often take them to see this beautiful work of art. The place, where it is, is very accessible. It’s really a nice place too. In summer it is pleasant because you are protected from the sun and over there, there is a wall where the names of people living in Riom who died during the war are written. I think people come to see the wall and at the same time, see the statue.

Second person: I remember this statue is made of very beautiful white marble. It’s not well displayed because we have to enter in the city hall to appreciate the sculpture. It would have been better to expose it in a public spot despite the risks of damage. I find this statue very elegant. The faces of the two people are well-represented with a lot of details. It’s extraordinary to be able to sculpt these details in a big block of marble! I think that there is a perspective: your view begins at the feet of the man, and then you guess the legs of the man and his body, after your attention is attracted by the faces and finally by the fabulous kiss which represents death but also glory and victory. If the kiss is the bridge between life and death I think it may be pleasant to die or just less difficult…

Third person: I don’t know the statue you mention because I don’t live in Riom. I just come to visit my family. But I have heard of “La vierge à l’enfant.”

The soldier remembers...

My darling wife, I am, in my dying moments, thinking about the wonderful times we have spent together. I would like to be with you now but it’s impossible. During this horrible War, I was shot in the guts. I just had few minutes left to live. I wanted to tell you everything I never had the courage to tell you. I love you more than anything and anyone and I know you will miss me but I will be forever with you even if you don’t see me. I want you to be strong and remember that I love you and I will love you forever and ever. I know that life will be difficult for you without me but I want you to live for both of us and for our children. Kiss the children and tell them how I love them and how I’m proud of them. I’m not worried for our wonderful children, they will find work, they will be happy. It’s all I hope for them. I just want their happiness. Continue to be the best mother for them and continue to be happy for them. I feel the kiss of the angel of death, but I am at peace…