La Gloire militaire
Julien Dillens (1849-1904)
Belgian
Date : 1893
Dimensions : 68 cm (total height)
Material : Patinated bronze
Foundry : Cie des Bronzes / Bruxelles
Engraved on the base : “CHAMPIONNAT AUX / ARMES DE GUERRE / BRUXELLES – 1893”
Provenance : Previously in the collection of Oscar Delaunoy (La Louvière).
La Gloire militaire (1893) by Julien Dillens is a rare, possibly unique bronze sculpture commissioned as a prize by the Commission permanente du Tir national. Ordered by the Belgian government, it was awarded as the prix d’honneur in the Grand concours de tir à la cible, specifically in the armes de guerre category. The inscription on the base — “CHAMPIONNAT AUX / ARMES DE GUERRE / BRUXELLES – 1893” — confirms its official function.
The sculpture portrays a striking female allegory of war, a theme deeply rooted in 19th-century iconography. Echoing the helmet seen in Dillens’ earlier bust of Minerva, the figure evokes the classical goddess of war. She stands confidently, a rifle resting on her shoulder, while with her other hand she points toward the bullseye of a round target — her index finger frozen mid-gesture.
This action transforms the figure into a personification of precision and victory, offering a patriotic and heroic vision of feminine strength. According to an article featured in the ‘Local News’ section of La Meuse on August 7, 1893, Dillens originally envisioned the work as “a woman holding a rifle in one hand and a palm in the other.” Though the palm was eventually replaced by a target, the allegorical message remains clear.
The sculpture was likely never reproduced. Its absence from contemporary art literature suggests it remained a one-of-a-kind piece. Stylistically and iconographically, however, it is closely related to Dillens’ other major works from the same period — notably Pallas or Minerva and Allegretto, shown at the 1894 Universal Exhibition in Antwerp.
La Gloire militaire exemplifies the fusion of national symbolism, technical mastery, and expressive elegance that defines Julien Dillens’ finest creations.
