Statue Jean-Jacques Rousseau — Attraction in Geneva

The statue of Jean-Jacques Rousseau was inaugurated in 1935 on the old island, renamed for the occasion in the name of the great philosopher born in Geneva on June 28, 1712. This bronze monument is the work of the sculptor James Pradier, to whom he was ordered in 1930. Rousseau Island is located on the Rhone River, shortly after the end of Lake Geneva, just a few tens of meters from the Pont du Mont-Blanc. It can be reached by a footbridge, which also links the Quai des Bergues, on the right bank of the Rhone, and the Promenade du Lac, on the left bank. The statue and the island were renovated and refurbished in 2012, on the occasion of the tercentenary of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The statue was showcased by British filmmaker Peter Greenaway on the occasion of his installation "Stairs", in 1994.

Socha Jeana-Jacquese Rousseaua byla slavnostně otevřena v roce 1935 na starém ostrově, přejmenovaném pro po velkém filozofovi narozeném v Ženevě 28. června 1712. Bronzový pomník je dílem sochaře Jamese Pradiera, který byl pověřen jeho zhotovením v roce 1930. Ostrov najdete na řece Rhone, těsně u konce Ženevského jezera, jen pár desítek metrů od mostu Pont du Mont-Blanc. Na místo pohodlně dojdete po lávkce pro pěší, která spojuje Quai des Bergues na pravém, a Promenade du Lac na levém břehu. Socha i ostrov prošly v roce 2012 rekonstrukcí u příležitosti stého výročí narození Jeana Rousseaua. Sochu se objuevila při příležitosti instalace díla s názvem "Schody" britského umělce a filmaře Petera Greenawaye...

In this beautiful city, where billboards of Genevan watches are lit on top of buildings surrounding the lake; the most notable philosopher son of Geneva has a life size black statue on a small island named after him. He is holding a pen in his hand, a book in his lap, books under his seat and a robe around his body. The site was awfully dark, evidently city administration has forgotten the old fellow. I visited the monument , took some photos and kept looking for memorial plaques, some description of his life, work and achievements but found none.

I said what i had to because the wise man once said: I do not agree with a word that you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say...

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Statue of Rousseau, seating on a chair, writing a letter. The text in the book in his hand is: "emile si la vie et la mort de Socrate sont d'un sage, la vie et la mort de Jesus sont d'un Dieu." (If the life and death of Socrates are those of a wise man, the life and death of Jesus are those of a God), a quote from Rousseau's Émile ou De l'éducation...