Paris 2015: Monument to Adam Mickiewicz, 8e arrondissement

Adam Mickiewicz (1798–1855) was one of the great European Romantic poets, considered in the country of his birth as the father of modern Polish literature. He spent much of his life in France, and it was in 1929 that this magnificent statue, sculpted by Antoine Bourdelle and financed by the Association France-Pologne, was erected in the Place de l'Alma; it was moved to the present site a short distance away in Cours Albert 1^er in 1955. Mickiewicz stands at the top of the structure, whereas the bas reliefs represent some of his poems.

'AUX DZIADY
LA MORT
VIENT PRENDRE
LA PAROLE.
LA VIE
N'EST PLUS
Q[U]'AUX OMBRES'

 

'CAPTIF
TU PEUX PAR
LA PENSÉE
ET PAR LA FOI
FAIRE CROULER
ET RELEVER
LES TRÔNES'

 

'WALLENROD
DIT: J'AI ÉCOUTÉ
LE CHANT.
TRIOMPHE POUR
LE POÈTE.
LES PROJETS
SERONT ACCOMPLIS'

 

'LE VIEUX BARDE
HALBAN
TOUCHE LES CORDES.
EN ACCORDS TIMIDES
IL SUIT LES TONS
FAROUCHES
DE SON MAÎTRE'

 

'CHANTS
D'ALDONA
QUE
L'AUDITEUR
SENSIBLE
T'ACHÈVE
DANS SON ÂME'

 

'RÉASSEMBLÉES
LES TROIS ÂMES
DE LA POLOGNE
SONGENT
VERS MICKIEVICZ
PROPHÈTE DE
LA DÉLIVRANCE'