Le Répit de l’Agriculteur Sculpture

Amidst the bustling cityscape, a quiet giant rests. This is Le Répit de l’Agriculteur, a monumental sculpture capturing a moment of respite. Le Répit de l’Agriculteur stands at the northern entrance of the Gratte-Ciel district. It sits at the crossroads of Avenue Henri Barbusse and Cours Emile Zola. This sculpture adds a touch of monumentality to the already impressive urban landscape. Commissioned by the mayor of Villeurbanne, Lazare Goujon, Le Répit de l’Agriculteur was created by Jules Pendariès. It was inaugurated in June 1934, intended to mark the entrance to the newly built Gratte-Ciel district. The sculpture is a replica of an original marble statue located in Paris on the Esplanade Roger Linet. The Parisian version, known as “Le Répit du Travailleur,” or “The Worker’s Rest,” stands opposite the Maison des Métallos, a historic center for trade unionism. The Lyon version, however, has a slightly different name, “Le Répit de l’Agriculteur”, or “The Farmer’s Rest”. This distinction reflects Pendariès’ focus on rural subjects, a recurring theme in his work displayed in museums like Gaillac and Narbonne. He often depicted peasants in heroic nudity, following the traditions of historical sculpture. Interestingly, a 60-centimeter head study for Le Répit is preserved in the Gaillac museum. The sculpture is made of Euville stone. It measures 2.6 meters in height, 1.6 meters in width, and 1.2 meters in depth. It weighs a substantial 3,500 kilograms. Le Répit de l’Agriculteur represents a worker, possibly a farmer, miner, or factory worker, taking a break. He leans on his tool, embodying the strength and dignity of manual labor. The sculpture resonates with Rodin’s “The Thinker,” a symbol of the political left. This connection appealed to Lazare Goujon, a socialist mayor who saw the sculpture as a celebration of the working class. While the Paris statue has lost its tool, a pickaxe, the Lyon sculpture retains its staff, symbolizing the enduring nature of labor. Le Répit de l’Agriculteur remains a powerful symbol of the working class and the importance of rest. It anchors the roundabout at the heart of the Gratte-Ciel district.