Monument à Gustave Nadaud

Why a rose? Here at the Monument à Gustave Nadaud, you’ll notice a bronze figure offering a rose to the bust of Gustave Nadaud. This monument, nestled in the Parc Barbieux, celebrates the life and work of Roubaix’s beloved chansonnier. Gustave Nadaud, born in Roubaix in 1820, wasn’t just a local figure. He became a nationally renowned poet, songwriter, and entertainer. The monument, erected in 1896, three years after his death, features a white marble bust of Nadaud. Alphonse-Amédée Cordonnier, the sculptor, placed Nadaud atop a high pedestal, surrounded by bronze allegories of Music and Song. At the center, a figure of Renown offers Nadaud a rose, his favorite flower. Originally, the monument also included bronze bas-reliefs depicting scenes from four of his famous songs: “Les Deux Gendarmes,” “La Garonne,” “L’Elixir du docteur Grégoire,” and “La Ronde d’amour.” Sadly, these have since disappeared. Cordonnier and the foundry Leblanc-Barbedienne signed their work on the sides of the Music and Song figures. The monument was moved in 1998 from its original location across from the park, to its current spot near the old bandstand. During the move, workers even discovered some of Nadaud’s remains, although he’s also buried in Montmartre Cemetery in Paris. This monument embodies the spirit of Gustave Nadaud, a man who, despite his success, never accepted payment for his performances, dying in poverty in 1893. His legacy lives on, not only in this monument but in the hearts of those who still sing his songs.