Hommage au Prince Rainier III

This painted concrete monument represents the Fontvieille district at the foot of the Rock of Monaco. It was commissioned by the "grateful businesses of the Principality”, in recognition of Prince Rainier III’s leading role in building the new district on land reclaimed from the sea, which did so much for Monaco’s economy, industry, and commerce. Today, in the early 21st century, the Monegasque economy continues to flourish. But the local artist Hubert Clérissi is no longer with us.
This mural was created by two painters, Magali Colombier and Marie-Laurence Damon, also known as Titouliv. It was a gift from the Monegasque Employers’ Federation, now known as FEDEM. The monument also commemorates Hubert Clérissi, who was born the same year as Prince Rainier III.

Hubert Clérissi was born on 16 May 1923 in Monaco. Introduced to painting by his father Etienne, a watercolour artist, Hubert was taught by Giunio Colombo at the École Municipale des Arts Décoratifs in the Principality. He was eleven years old when his precocious talent was spotted by Jean-Gabriel Domergue. In 1950, Maurice Utrillo, President of the Jury at the Salon Monégasque, predicted he would go on to achieve great things in painting. Over four decades, he held more than forty solo exhibitions around the world. A watercolour artist, painter, and illustrator, Hubert Clérissi’s style gradually evolved. At first influenced by Maurice Utrillo, by the 1980s he had graduated to strong lines and formative designs.
Much of his work has themes of history and heritage. The artist depicts boats, trains, cars, tramways, and iconic locations around Monaco, as visual signs of the Principality’s urban development and technological progress. He died in 2000. The street where he founded in studio Villa Marie-Angèle, originally called Rue Augustin Vento, was renamed in his honour.