Allegories of the Seine and Marne rivers by Aimé Millet (1819-1891)
A veritable piece of Parisian architectural history, our sculptures are the preparatory sketches for the figures framing the clock on the Hôtel de Ville in Paris. Representing allegories of the Seine and Marne rivers that surround the capital, Millet follows in the footsteps of the great sculptors, drawing inspiration from Michelangelo and Carpeaux.
Burnt down during the Paris Commune uprising on May 24, 1871, the Hôtel de Ville was destroyed, along with many other Parisian buildings such as the Palais de Justice, the Palais des Tuileries and the Gare de Lyon. Having taken refuge in the Palais du Luxembourg, the city council decided to have the Hôtel de Ville rebuilt in 1873 and launched a competition for architects. The winners were Théodore Ballu and Edouard Deperthes, who proposed that the Renaissance-style facade be rebuilt identically. The project was approved, and work began. Work was completed in 1882. The town council, embodying the values of the Third Republic, wanted the new Hôtel de Ville to become the people’s house. The building thus became the most modern public building in existence.
Thanks to his renown, Millet once again had the opportunity to work on the monument’s decor, at the request of the architects. One of his sculptures, representing Baron Gros, had already adorned the façade before the fire. In 1879, Millet was commissioned to create two recumbent statues representing the Seine and Marne rivers, to frame the Hôtel de Ville clock. He quickly completed our maquettes, finishing the final statues in 1883.
By the time Millet received this commission, his career was already rich and extensive, having spanned almost 40 years. The city of Paris is a fine example of this, with so much work on its monuments and buildings, bearing witness to the currents and styles in vogue under the Second Empire and the Third Republic, as well as the profound transformations that marked the 19th century, such as the development of education, the industrial revolution and associated technical advances, the development of commerce and the birth of a modern banking system, the opening up to the world and the fascination with civilizations around the globe.
One of his most famous creations in Paris is undoubtedly Apollo surrounded by Poetry and Music de la Musique, the motto of the Paris Opera. The architect Charles Garnier expressed his admiration for this peerless work, of impressive dimensions and the fruit of 18 months’ labor and stressed that “to the respect due to work, we must add that due to talent”.