Monument Honore Fragonard - Grasse

The Monument Honore Fragonard – officially the Monument à Jean‑Honoré Fragonard – is a showpiece in the Square du Clavecin in Grasse and honours the famous 18th-century painter who was born in the city.

The monument stands at the entrance to the old town , as if Fragonard were welcoming visitors to his hometown. His name is also linked to a square, a museum, and a perfume house in Grasse.

It was erected in 1907 , on the occasion of the centenary of Fragonard's death. It is a marble sculpture , designed by Auguste Maillard (1864–1944) , a renowned sculptor of the time. The statue shows Fragonard sitting on a tree stump , with loose clothing, brush in hand and a palette on his lap – as if he were in the middle of painting.

The female figure next to Fragonard represents his muse or inspiration . She hands him a flower – a symbol of love and beauty , often recurring in his work. This makes the monument almost a narrative tableau.

There is also a small cherub (Cupid) depicted at his feet, a reference to the many love scenes in Fragonard's work. It is a nod to paintings such as Le Verrou and L'Escarpolette (The Swing).

When it was unveiled in 1907 , some found the design too light-hearted or mischievous , not "serious" enough for a tribute, but it became a beloved cityscape nonetheless.

In the 1960s and 1980s it fell into disrepair and was even nominated to be moved or removed. Thanks to local action and restorations in 1997 and 2019 it is now in good condition again. During restoration it was discovered that his brush was broken and missing . During the renovation a new brush was reconstructed by hand , based on old photographs.

willem vandenameele