Monument Talabot
When one arrives in Saint-Geniez-d'Olt, visitors are always surprised to see this white monument dominating the town. This tomb of Marie Talabot, very significant of her time, was made by 3 artists from Aveyron who were expatriates in Paris.
The life of Marie Talabot :
Born in 1822, Marie Savy, an orphan from a modest family, left Saint-Geniez to work for some notables in Marseille. She met the engineer Paulin Talabot, builder of railway lines throughout the Mediterranean basin and founder of the P.L.M. line (Paris - Lyon - Mediterranean). A sentimental relationship develops between them, despite their great age difference (she is 19 and he 42). Paulin, for professional reasons, has to move to Paris. Marie frequented high society there, held a salon, and also made regular donations to the good works of Saint-Geniez.
According to the legend, back in her native country, Marie would have arrived in a large crew in front of the local petty bourgeoisie, who would have seen the return of this "parvenue" with a very bad eye. To those who threw stones at her, she would have answered "Since you lower me while I am alive, I will dominate you after my death".
During the inauguration of the Eiffel Tower in 1889, she contracted pneumonia, which would prove fatal. She left a will specifying, in addition to the bequest of her fortune to the needy of Saint-Geniez, the details of the monument that would serve as her burial place. Her heir entrusted the design of the monument to Lucien Magne, architect on the site of the Sacré-Coeur basilica in Montmartre. The marble statue and a bas-relief are the work of Louis-Ernest Barrias, the others by the Aveyron sculptor Denys Puech. Although Marie had bought a plot in the new cemetery, the architect wanted the work to be highlighted. Marie Talabot's nephew then negotiated with the municipality to erect it on the site of the old castle. Built and presented in Paris in 1892, the mausoleum was then dismantled and transported to Saint-Geniez by rail before being assembled on its current location. It was inaugurated on 17 October of the same year.
The stone monument by Lucien Magne represents Mary at prayer, in full regalia, recalling the
of the Middle Ages.
The 4 sides are decorated with scenes sculpted in marble:
1st scene, signed Louis-Ernest Barrias (grand prix de Rome in 1864, he worked at the Paris Opera) :
Epitaph of Marie Talabot "Marie Savy, wife of Paulin Talabot, director of the Paris-Lyon-Mediterranean railways, 1822-1889".
2nd scene, signed Denys Puech (native of Bozouls, grand prix de Rome in 1884):
Marie Talabot gives alms to the poor, orphans and old people (symbol of her generosity towards the hospice of Saint-Geniez).
3rd scene, signed Denys Puech :
Allegory representing the soul of Mary at the entrance of
Paradise.
4th scene, signed Denys Puech :
Mary offers a church to heaven (Mary and Paulin Talabot
saved the church of Condat-sur-Vienne).
