Sic transit gloria mundi

“Sic transit gloria mundi”, Tomb of Maurice of Saxe, St-Thomas church, Strasbourg, 2012.

I’ve already spoke of the St-Thomas church in Élan and Octogone. I haven’t tell yet however, that this church contains also the tomb of Maurice de Saxe (1696-1750), Marshall General of France of King Louis XV.

He’s mostly known for the key-role he played during the Austrian War of Succession: joining the French forces, he won the battle of Tournai, Fontenoy and Rocourt, conquering all the Austrian Netherlands in very few time. Maurice de Saxe died in 1750 from a wound he received in a duel but, as he was Protestant, he couldn’t be buried in Catholic France, so his body was transferred in Strasbourg.

In 1771, on the request of King Louis XV, a monumental tomb was erected for him in St-Thomas Church in Strasbourg. The monument was made by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, who was also the sculptor of the tomb of Henry d’Harcourt in the cathedral Notre-Dame of Paris, with which the tomb of Maurice de Saxe shares some similarities (especially the character of the Death is very similar in both monuments).

On the monument of Maurice de Saxe, the Death is calling the Marshall to go in the tomb, while France, represented as a crying women, try to convince Death to wait. Lions and flags are here as reminder of the title and military glory of the Marshall.


Available as a print here!


Tools and exifs:

  • Canon EOS 450D + Canon 18-55 IS
  • 20mm
  • 1/15 s.
  • f/4
  • ISO 800

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