In 1805, Joseph-Marie Jacquard (1752-1834), an engineer from Lyon, received a patent for a grosgrain mechanism, sometimes referred to as the Jacquard machine or Jacquard machine after its inventor. This inconspicuous invention, used on weaving looms and knitting machines to control single warp threads to create intricate, large-scale patterns, laid the foundation for a revolution in weaving that changed the face of the field. More than a century after his inauguration, it is worth taking a look at the Jacquard monument in Saint-Étienne by the French sculptor with Polish roots, Paul Landowski, who recorded the story of the forgotten inventor.

Description of the monument

Situated on Jacquard Square in Saint-Étienne, the Jacquard monument catches the eye with its scale and original form. The monument is a monument in the shape of a cuboidal tomb with rounded corners with a bust of Jacquard, seven bas-relief panels with scenes from the inventor's life, flanked by four figures of female workers and labourers, set on columns.

Inscriptions

The object is signed on the right pilaster of the pedestal with a veristic bust of the inventor 'P.M. LANDOWSKI / 1911-1912' and dated above a niche on the left wall of the object 'ANNO MXMXII'.

The front wall of the object bears inscriptions explaining the two bas-reliefs there:

"JACQUARD PAUVRE OUVRIER LYONNAIS PRESENTE / SA MACHINE A TISSER A UNE COMMISSION DES PLUS / HABILES FABRICANTS ET OUVRIERS DE LYON / TOUS L'ADOPTERENT IMMEDIATEMENT - 1806" (Jacquard the poor worker from Lyon presents / his weaving machine to a committee of the most skilful workers from Lyon / all begin to use it immediately - 1806);

"L'INVENTION DE JACQUARD OCCASIONNA UN CHOMAGE / MOMENTANE. LES OUVRIERS S'AMEUTERENT. UN JOUR / JACQUARD FAILLIT ETRE JETE DANS LE RHONE / IL FUT OBLIGE DE QUITTER SA VILLE NATALE" (Jacquard's invention caused unemployment / momentarily the workers revolted one day / Jacquard was thrown into the Rhine / was obliged to leave his home town).

On the back wall:

vertically along five panels illustrating stages in the history of weaving the names of the inventors: "VAUCANSON VERRIER DANGON GARON LASSALLE";

below the inscription: 'LE LISAGE - JACQUARD CONSTRUIT LE MODELE DE SON METIER - LA PASSEMENTERIE' ('LE LISAGE - JACQUARD CONSTRUIT LE MODELE DE SON METIER - LA PASSEMENTERIE'). - Jacquard created a model for his profession - haberdashery);

and Jacquard's biography: "JACQUARD NAQUIT A LYON - 1752 IL PASSA LA MOITIE DE SA VIE DANS LA PLUS GRANDE PAUVRETE. IL PRIT PART AUX GUERRES DE LA REVOLUTION. SON FILS FUT TUE A SES COTES. A SON RETOUR EN FRANCE IL PERDIT SA FEMME MORTE DE PRIVATIONS. EN 1801 IL EXPOSA LE PREMIER MODEL DE SA MACHINE. MANDE A PARIS PAR CARNOT LA VUE DU METIER DU VAUCANSON LE MIT SUR LA VOIE DEFINITIVE. IL RECUT LA CROIX DE LA LEGION D'HONNEUR 1819. IL MORT PAUVRE 1834 " (Jacquard was born in Lyon in 1752. He spent half his life in great poverty. He took part in the struggles of the Revolution. His son died at his side. On his return to France, he lost his wife who died of privation. In 1801, he presented the first model of his machine. He was invited to Paris by [loom maker Lazare] Carnot, [where] the sight of [Jacques de] Vaucanson's weaving workshop put him on the final track. He received the cross of the Legion of Honour in 1819. He died poor in 1834).

In addition, the information on the initiative for the creation of the monument is written on the side wall:

"CE MONUMENT DU / A LA GENEREUSE / INITIATIVE DE / MONSIEUR / PIERRE DEVILLE / ET A UNE / SOUSCRIPTION / PUBLIQUE / A ETE INAUGURE / LE VINGT-ET-UN / AVRIL 1912 SOUS / LA PRESIDENCE / DE M. JEAN NEYRET / MAIRE DE LA VILLE / DE SAINT ETIENNE / ET DE M. JEAN / JACQUES CIRON / PRESIDENT DU / COMITE" (This monument / thanks to the generous / initiative / of / Mr. / Pierre Deville / and / subscription / of the public / was inaugurated / on / 21 / April 1912 / in the presence / of / Mr. Jean Neyret / mayor of the city / of Saint-Saint-Étienne / and Mr. Jean / Jacques Ciron / president of the committee).

History of the creation of the monument

The monument was created thanks to the initiative of a local industrialist, the warp manufacturer Pierre Deville, who in his last will donated the funds to realise the monument in memory of Joseph-Marie Jacquard. Paul Landowski was chosen as the contractor for the monument, following Deville's death in 1905. The unveiling ceremony of the structure took place on 21 April 1912.