Paul Moreau-Vauthier

Paul Moreau-Vauthier (November 26, 1871 - February 2, 1936) was a noted French sculptor.

Moreau-Vauthier first achieved public renown with his statue "La Parisienne" shown at the Exposition Universelle (1900) in Paris, and is now perhaps best known for his memorial wall to the "Victimes des révolutions" ("Mur des Fédérés") on Avenue Gambetta, Paris. He also created an allegorical work to commemorate Louis Blériot's first cross-Channel airplane flight in 1909.

A veteran of the Battle of Verdun, Moreau-Vauthier had the idea in 1920 to memorialize World War I by installing a series of sculpted stones along the 650 km front from Nieuwpoort, Belgium through Moosch near Altkirch, and on to the Franco-Swiss border. He presented his first model that year in Paris; Henri Defert, president of the Touring Club of France, endorsed the idea and invited the Belgian Touring Club to join the project. A total of 240 markers were planned (28 in Belgium, 212 in France), of which 118 were erected (22 in Belgium, 96 in France) in the years between 1921-1927. Three basic designs differ primarily in the helmet capping the milestone (French, Belgium, British), with side decorations of infantryman's gear such as water bottles, hand grenades, etc. Many of these "Borne du Front" stones are still extant.

Moreau-Vauthie died in 1936 in a car accident at Ruffigny near Niort in Deux-Sèvres, and is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

Selected works

* "La Parisienne", Paris, Exposition Universelle (1900)
* "Victimes des révolutions", Avenue Gambetta, Paris; designed 1900, built 1909
* "Borne du Front", many locations; between 1921-1927

References

* David C. Homsher, "American Battlefields of World War I: Chateau-thierry - Then And Now", Battleground Productions, 2006, pages 258-259. ISBN 0970244304.
* [http://www.14-18enlorraine.com/1index_borne_de_demarcation.html Les bornes Touring Club de France et de Belgique (French)]
* [http://wra.ros.googlepages.com/demarcationstonesww1 List of demarcation stones]
* [http://www.petit-patrimoine.com/fiche-petit-patrimoine.php?id_pp=55189_1 Petit Patrimonie artice (French)]