Fère-en-Tardenois in Aisne, Upper France, France — Western Europe
James Butler, R.A., M.B.E.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 8, 2024
1. James Butler, R.A., M.B.E. Marker
25 July 1931 - 26 March 2022
Knight in the french Order of Arts and Letters
James Butler was a famous British figurative sculptor, at the time of his death the longest serving member of the Royal Academy. His works include large-scale bronze statues of famous historical figures like Queen Elizabeth or former Kenyan President Jomo Kenyatta, as well as several memorials commemorating WWI and WWII in England, France and the United States.
James Butler is also well known for his smaller bronzes depicting dancers and nudes.
The Rainbow Soldier, a memorial to the U.S. 42nd Division in WWI (Rainbow), was inaugurated on the site of the battle of Croix Rouge Farm, at Fère-en-Tardenois on November 12, 2011.
James Butler considered the Rainbow Soldier his most powerful and spiritual work, stating:
« It was a chance to make a large statue of one of the most heroic deeds one can think of : the rescue of a soldier from the battlefield. I am personally not a religious person but this whole project had a very powerful spiritual effect on me. There were periods in the modelling of the figure when the form was being made by stronger and more powerful creative force than my own.
I almost watched my hands model part of the figure of the soldier. »
James Butler, in 2017, seated by the Rainbow Soldier
James Butler, R.A., MBE.
25 Juillet 1931-26 Mars 2022
Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
James Butler était un célèbre sculpteur figuratif britannique et au moment de sa mort, le plus ancien membre de la Royal Academy. Ses œuvres comprennent non seulement de grandes statues en bronze représentant des personnages historiques célèbres comme la Reine Elizabeth ou l'ancien Président kenyan Jomo Kenyatta, mais aussi plusieurs mémoriaux commémorant les deux conflits mondiaux en Angleterre, en France et aux États-Unis. James Butler est également bien connu pour ses petits bronzes représentant des danseuses et des nus.
Le «Rainbow Soldier» est un mémorial au service de la 42m division américaine (Rainbow) pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. Il a été inauguré sur le site de la bataille de la Ferme de la Croix Rouge, à Fère-en-Tardenois, le 12 novembre 2011.
James Butler considérait le « Rainbow Soldier » comme son œuvre la plus puissante et la plus spirituelle, déclarant:
« C'était l'occasion de faire une grande statue de l'un des actes les plus héroïques qui soit : le sauvetage d'un soldat sur le champ de bataille. Je ne suis personnellement pas une personne religieuse mais tout ce projet a eu un effet spirituel très puissant sur moi. Il y avait des périodes pendant le modelage de la statue où la forme était faite par une force créatrice plus forte et plus puissante que la mienne. J'ai presque regardé mes mains modeler une partie du soldat. »
James Butler, en 2017, assis devant le Rainbow Soldier
Topics.
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Location. 49° 7.958′ N, 3° 31.287′ E. Marker is in Fère-en-Tardenois, Hauts-de-France (Upper France), in Aisne. It is on La Croix Rouge (Route D3) north of Route A4, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fère-en-Tardenois, Hauts-de-France 02130, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rainbow Soldier (here, next to this marker); The 42nd "Rainbow" Division Memorial (here, next to this marker); The Battle of the Ourcq River (a few steps from this marker); Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial (approx. 7.9 kilometers away); Oisne-Aisne American Memorial (approx.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 8, 2024
2. James Butler, R.A., M.B.E. Marker
Also see . . . James Butler at Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 5, 2024.)
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 8, 2024
3. The Rainbow Soldier
Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 117 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 5, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.
