Statue of the week

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Ile Rousseau, Geneva

Les Genevoises never were particularly keen on their local philosopher during his lifetime, despite naming the smaller island on the Rhône after him. It was not until 1835 that another local boy, Ingres-influenced sculptor James Pradier, was commissioned to produce a statue. And then, some time in 2009, they allowed the Université de Genève to bung up a lurid purple dome right in front of Pradier’s work for their exhibition celebrating the human genome. Having deprived the philosopher his customary view of the river, some bright spark decided to give him a mirror so at least visitors could see what he looks like. And a little thought-bubble: Je me suis moi-même posé la question de la magie du vivant (“I too mused on the mystery of life”).