A small French village is paying tribute to one of its most famous sons, sculptor Victor Ségoffin, on the 100th anniversary of his death. The municipality of Corronsac, along with the local association La Sauveté de Corronsac, organized commemorative events on October 18, 2025, to honor the acclaimed artist whose family once lived in what is now the current town hall building.
Victor Ségoffin (1867-1925) was a celebrated sculptor whose death notice, published in La Dépêche du Midi on October 18, 1925, reveals the extent of his fame and accomplishments. The obituary announced the passing of "Mr. Victor Ségoffin, sculptor, first Grand Prize of Rome, Officer of the Legion of Honor, Officer of the Crown of Italy, member of the Superior Council of Fine Arts, professor and workshop head at the National School of Fine Arts in Paris." He died in Toulouse on October 17, 1925, at the age of 58.
Despite facing life's difficulties from an early age, Ségoffin achieved extraordinary success through determination, passion, and relentless work with clay, plaster, marble, and bronze. His remarkable journey from humble beginnings to artistic consecration and social recognition earned him numerous prizes, medals, and honors throughout his career.
Ségoffin's most spectacular works could once be found at the Panthéon, in the Louvre courtyard, in the gardens of the Élysée Palace, and at the École Polytechnique. He also excelled in portrait art, with famous and wealthy contemporaries competing for his services to immortalize their images. His delicate statuettes of women and his masterfully crafted medals demonstrated his versatility as an artist.
While many of Ségoffin's monumental bronzes did not survive the Vichy decree and were melted down during World War II, beautiful collections of his works are preserved in museums. His signature can still be found on several busts of great figures in city gardens across France, and miniature works periodically appear at auctions, delighting private collectors.
Maïté Sans, the passionate project leader behind the commemorative efforts, explained the motivation for organizing these events. She noted that while art historians and critics have praised Ségoffin's works and his exceptional artistic genius impresses observers, it was the "additional soul" in his creations that moved her. According to Sans, his human values, endearing personality, and affection for his native land, perceptible in his works and confirmed by his writings, were key factors in the extensive effort to celebrate this anniversary.
The commemorative events began with a ceremony on Friday, October 17, at 12:30 PM, held at the sculptor's tomb in the Terre-Cabade cemetery in Toulouse. Representatives from the city and museums joined together for this moment of remembrance and sharing, uniting Toulouse and Corronsac in honoring their native son.
The main celebration took place on Saturday, October 18, starting at 5:00 PM in the town hall square of Corronsac. The program included welcoming guests, speeches, and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque bearing the sculptor's likeness on the façade of the town hall, which was once the Ségoffin family home. The event featured a spectacular showcase of Ségoffin's works through an exhibition of major pieces displayed on traveling kakemonos, a live bust sculpting demonstration by sculptor Frédéric Vilamazzotta, and a sound and light show projected on the wall of the community center. The evening concluded with a reception that allowed attendees to continue their conversations and celebrate the legacy of this remarkable artist.
