Statue commemorating the centennial of the union of Carouge with Geneva, by James Vibert. The reverse lists the communes separated from Savoy and attached to the canton of Geneva, and bears the inscription:

“Reunited with the Republic of Geneva, becoming a Swiss Canton. Erected by these communities to commemorate the centennial of 1816. June 7, 1925“. (translation from the original French).

According to Avada, James Vibert:

James Vibert was the son of Jean-Pierre Vibert, a prominent figure in Carouge administration. Jean Pierre Vibert was advisor municipal and administrative in Carouge, distinguished in the history of the city as one of the fiercest opponents of the project of the annexation of Carouge in Geneva.

James was born on 15 August 1872 in Carouge, Switzerland and died on 2 May 1942 and was a renowned Swiss sculptor. He is known as one of the precursors of the Symbolism movement in Switzerland. His brother Pierre-Eugene was also a famous artist for whom I have created a separate page

After his first studies of sculpture at the fine arts of Geneva, he left for Paris where he is admitted as a student to the great sculptor Auguste Rodin. He participated in many exhibitions in France and Switzerland, and back in Carouge, he was appointed Professor at the fine arts (1903). Preferably sculpting marble, he leaves monuments as famous as “Les Trois Suisses” of the Federal Palace in Berne (1914), “The Communes Réunies” of the place of the Rondeau, commemorating the meeting of Carouge in Geneva, or even ‘Human effort’, monument symbolizing work, placed in front of the old building of the ILO. He was nominated professor of the École des Beaux Arts at Geneva.

In the background one of the numerous cafe/restaurants in Carouge: “Au Boccalino”.