Souvenir Medal Monnaie de Paris 2023 - Barentin Cité des Arts (76)

Barentin, known as the "city of the arts," is renowned for its open-air museum, founded by President André Marie, who served as the Mayor of the city from 1945 to 1974. His motto was "the contemplation of beauty commands the practice of goodness." Starting in 1948, the city began placing busts and statues in its streets and intersections, sourced from national museum reserves, purchases, and donations. The aim was to introduce the townspeople to the world of sculpture, both classical and contemporary. Renowned artists like Antoine Bourdelle, Hubert Yencesse, and Paul Niclausse contributed to this collection. The current municipality continues this tradition by regularly maintaining and restoring these artworks, thus preserving a precious cultural heritage for the city.