The Monument to Ampère, saved from destruction

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Welcome to the guided tour of the Ampère Monument, a tribute to the eminent physicist André-Marie Ampère.

André-Marie Ampère, born in Lyon in 1775, is famous for his pioneering work in the field of electromagnetism. His passion for mathematics and physics shaped a career that left an indelible mark on the history of science. Among his most important contributions is Ampère's law, establishing the fundamental relationship between electricity and magnetism, thus laying the foundations for modern electrodynamics.

However, behind his exceptional achievements lay an often-reported aspect of his personality: his absent-mindedness. Ampère was known to be so immersed in his thoughts and studies that he sometimes neglected his immediate surroundings. The statue of Ampère itself, depicts him sitting pensively, writing. It is cast in bronze and placed on a pedestal. This characteristic, often described as a form of intense concentration, was a reflection of his ardent passion for scientific research.

The history of the Ampère Monument also includes some remarkable events, particularly during the Second World War. On March 8, 1944, the statue was unbolted as part of the mobilization of non-ferrous metals for war purposes. Intended to be shipped and melted down, the statue escaped this fate and was hidden in a hangar to protect it from the ravages of the conflict. After the war, in 1945, the statue was found and replaced on its original pedestal, marking its triumphant return to the Square. 

The monument is positioned in the centre of a fountain added later, although the precise date of its installation is not specified. This fountain is embellished by two sphinxes designed by the sculptor Charles-Eugène Breton and cast by Gruet, a founder. The artists' signatures are clearly visible on the sphinxes themselves, reading: "Breton – Gruet, founder, Paris".

The Ampère Monument is a testimony to the importance of Ampère for the city of Lyon. Ampère appears on the fresco of the Lyonnais, created by the Cité de la Création in 1994 and 1995. 

By visiting this monument dedicated to the memory of André-Marie Ampère, we remember not only his remarkable scientific achievements, but also the complexity of his personality and his commitment to research and discovery.

Statue of Ampère on the square of the same name, Lyon.

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Close-up of the Ampère Statue. The character is depicted seated and pensive.

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View of a sphinx, a figure from Greek mythology.

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Engraving of André-Marie Ampère (1775 – 1836), famous French physicist.

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Memoirs on electrodynamics, volume II, 1885.

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Removed from its pedestal on March 8, 1944, it was saved and stored in a hangar, then replaced in 1945.

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The fresco of the Lyonnais: André-Marie Ampère.

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Pierre Bossan

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