Picture this Square Molière in Paris. A bronze Molière sits enthroned. He observes the Parisian bustle from his imposing fountain. This isn’t just any square. This is the place where the great playwright breathed his last. Molière died on February 21 1673 at number 40 rue de Richelieu. His final moments took place nearby. This spot held a simple house once. Years later in 1838 the house was demolished. A fountain was planned to replace it.
Initially a nymph statue was proposed. However a member of the Comédie-Française. François-Joseph Regnier had a brilliant idea. He suggested a monument to Molière instead. This required a national subscription a first for a civil figure. The project was a success. Work finished in 1844.
The fountain is a masterpiece. The central bronze statue is by Bernard-Gabriel Seurre. Two marble allegories flank it. They are La Comédie sérieuse and La Comédie légère. Jean-Jacques Pradier sculpted these elegant figures. Each holds a scroll. The scrolls list Molière’s plays. Pradier also crafted the Genius of the Pediment. Lion-headed masks at the base spout water into a semi-circular basin. The whole fountain is an ode to Molière’s genius.
A commemorative medal exists. It celebrates the fountain’s inauguration. The Carnavalet Museum holds a copy. The square itself now serves as a quiet tribute. It’s a place of reflection. It connects us to a giant of French theatre. You stand here today tracing the footsteps of a literary legend. You feel his presence. You’re in Square Molière a place steeped in history. A place of profound artistry. A fitting tribute to a man who transformed French comedy. The Square Molière invites you to contemplate the legacy of a true master.