Numerous secrets, myths, and fairy tales have enveloped the figure of the Luxembourg's famous Golden Lady.
But before we dive into the secrets, let's take a look a brief look at the statue's history, since it is celebrating its 100th birthday after all.
A memorial for the soldiers of the First World War
In the wake of German troops' withdrawal from Luxembourg in December 1918, a committee was established to construct a commemorative monument honouring the approximately 3,000 Luxembourgers who fought alongside the French during the war. This monument represented more than a mere symbol; it stood as a testament to a challenging era characterized by uncertainties and served as a political declaration against Germany, demonstrating unwavering support for the First World War Allies.
Following the rejection of several proposals, the committee overseeing the "Memorial Monument" ultimately designated Place de la Constitution as the monument's site. In February 1920, the national committee launched a competition to select the design for the monument dedicated to the memory of Luxembourg's soldiers in the First World War.
Out of 18 submissions, an international jury selected the sculptor Claus Cito's project entitled "Queen of Peace." Cito crafted the forms of the Golden Lady and the two soldiers adorning the pedestal using plaster and clay in his Bascharage studio. These forms were then transported by train to a foundry in Brussels.
The installation process spanned from late December 1921 until May 1923. To mark the inauguration in May 1923, a grand programme of festivities unfolded throughout the entire weekend, with local committees and associations actively participating.
Sunday, 27 May, marked the momentous occasion. A parade traversed the city, culminating at Place de la Constitution, where the Golden Lady was officially unveiled. Luxembourg deliberately sent a strong political message through the event.
Dignitaries primarily comprised official representatives from the Allied nations of Belgium, France, and Italy, while Germany received no invitation. This deliberate exclusion underscored Luxembourg's alignment with the victorious forces of the First World War. Following speeches by Prince Felix and the President of the Committee for a National Monument, the Golden Lady was unveiled amidst the echoes of 21 cannon shots.
In May 1940, German soldiers invaded Luxembourg and the Golden Lady became one of the first victims of the German occupation.
The assassination of the Golden Lady
Under the orders of Gauleiter Gustav Simon, the Golden Lady was slated for removal, a decision that did not sit well with the people of Luxembourg. Despite valiant efforts to spare the monument, their endeavours proved futile. But the question was: who would tear the statue down?
The German Wehrmacht refused, as a monument honouring soldiers, even enemy soldiers, should not be tampered with. Luxembourgish entrepreneurs were asked next. They did not want to do it either and claimed their workers were on strike, their lorries had broken down, or similar stories. Any reason was good to avoid becoming the assassin of the Golden Lady. With mounting pressure from the Germans, the municipal workers reluctantly assumed the responsibility.
After three days of meticulous work, the sculpture was eventually pulled down from its pedestal on the afternoon of 21 October, utilising a steel cable and a steamroller. As it descended, the Golden Lady's feet, because she was standing on her toes, shattered against the obelisk. Colliding with the ground, the statue fractured into three distinct pieces.
The downward gaze
Originally, the Golden Lady, as envisioned by Claus Cito, gazed straight ahead, symbolising peace and the future. However, when she plummeted from the obelisk on 21 October 1940, her head bent forward upon impact, a position she retains to this day. The downward gaze now signifies that the Goddess of Peace looks upon the two soldiers on the pedestal, rather than into the infinite horizon.
A hiding place for the Golden Lady
During the early 1920s, the responsibility of erecting the obelisk on which the Golden Lady would be placed fell upon the "Marbrerie Frères Jacquemart" in Hollerich. On the day of the Golden Lady's demolition, fate played a favourable hand. Ms Jacquemart proposed disposing of the three fragments of the statue.
However, her true intention was to preserve the sculpture. Her daring yet courageous plan was to conceale the remains beneath a pile of rocks in a quarry. For five years, the Golden Lady lay hidden under the rocks, an inconspicuous refuge until the end of the war. Similarly, the two soldiers found sanctuary in the nearby Salzhaff in Hollerich.
An intriguing anecdote involves the Golden Lady's big toe, which broke off during the monument's destruction and found its way into the pocket of a student. Today, this toe is in the possession of antiquarian dealer and art expert Armand Wagner. We covered this story as part of our video series 'Once upon a time... in Luxembourg.'
The melting rumour
During the war and subsequent years, a persistent rumour circulated that the Golden Lady was melted down by the Germans to forge weapons. This notion endured even when plans were considered to reinstate the statue in 1945.
Despite the three pieces being exhibited for a fortnight at the Cercle in 1955, Luxembourgers continued to favour the theory of melting, considering it factual well into the 1960s.
The disappearance of the Golden Lady
Following the war, the idea of reinstalling the Golden Lady at Place de la Constitution sparked debates. Divided opinions emerged: First World War veterans desired the return of their Angel of Peace as a reminder of fallen soldiers from 1914 to 1918, while Second World War veterans proposed leaving the pedestal vacant, symbolising the country's invasion by the Germans in 1940.
Although people knew the Golden Lady still existed, there was minimal enthusiasm for her reinstatement.
35 years forgotten
For the following 35 years, the Golden Lady endured a period of obscurity. Aside from a brief two-week exhibition at the Cercle in 1955, her presence likely remained confined to a dark corner at the Josy Barthel Stadium. The Golden Lady faded from public consciousness, seemingly vanished from the lives of Luxembourg's inhabitants.
However, a select few individuals in Luxembourg City remained aware of her whereabouts, prompting the renovation of the Golden Lady's pedestal in the late 1950s. It wasn't until January 1980 when journalist Josy Braun publicly revealed that the national symbol honouring fallen soldiers from the First World War lay neglected in a corner beneath the stadium.
Unmasking the Golden Lady
Throughout the Golden Lady's existence, claims arose regarding the identity of the model for Cito's sculpture. The most recent claim in 2015 came from the wife of a baker who resided across the street from Cito's studio. However, these assertions, along with others, failed to find credibility when compared to photographs from the 1920s.
Historian Jean Reitz, a prominent expert on Claus Cito and the Golden Lady, suggests that the model was likely Cito's Belgian girlfriend at the time. This theory finds support in other artworks by the sculptor that bear a striking resemblance to the Golden Lady. The fact that these works depict gravestones can be attributed to the artist expressing his emotions through his art following the end of their relationship.
