Jean Althen Sculpture, Avignon

The Jean Althen Sculpture in Avignon stands as a tribute to Jean-Baptiste Joannis Althen (1709–1774), an Armenian agronomist from Safavid Iran who revolutionized the cultivation of madder in France. Though madder—a plant used for red dye—was known in the region before his arrival, Althen's innovations turned its cultivation into a thriving industry, leaving a lasting impact on the local economy.

Born in the Safavid Empire (one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from 1501 to 1736), Jean-Baptiste Althen faced hardship early on as the empire declined under Shah Sultan Husayn. After his parents were killed during the Afghan invasion, Althen was enslaved and taken to the Ottoman Empire, where he learned cotton cultivation and dyeing. He escaped in 1736, fleeing to France, where his initial attempt to establish cotton fields failed. Undeterred, he turned to growing Oriental madder in Avignon in 1754, successfully producing 2,500 kilograms by 1769. Despite his agricultural achievements, Althen died in poverty in 1774.

Recognizing his significant agricultural legacy, the people of Avignon erected a statue in his honor in 1846, around 70 years after his death. Althen’s name endures not only through this sculpture but also in the French commune of Althen-des-Paluds, streets, and statues in various southern French cities, and the plant genus Althenia. The Jean Althen Sculpture stands as a testament to the perseverance and impact of a man who, against all odds, left an indelible mark on French agriculture.