Flandrin's painting, "an immense loss" in the fire in Nantes

• Great damage took place in the Saint-Pierre cathedral in Nantes, affected by a fire on Saturday.
• If the organ or the glass roof can be rebuilt, the painting by Hippolyte Flandrin is for its part definitely lost.

Of the imposing canvas (2.36 m high and 1.35 m wide), there is nothing more than a large trail of soot. Hanging in the right arm of the transept, not far from the tomb of François II and Marguerite de Foix and above an electrical cabinet, the painting by Hippolyte Flandrin is probably the work that will pay the heaviest price of the fire in the Saint-Pierre cathedral in Nantes, which occurred on Saturday morning. If the great organ or the stained glass windows in the glass roof can be rebuilt, this 19th century painting, Saint Clair healing the blind , is definitely lost. "It is a great sorrow," said Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot on Saturday.

The museum is deeply saddened by the fire, Saturday morning, of its neighbor the cathedral of Nantes, by the numerous damages caused and the destruction, in addition to the great organ and the stained glass windows, of the painting of Hippolyte Flandrin, "Saint Clair making the seen to a blind man ". pic.twitter.com/6SgEfvqVFr

Still “in shock”, Clémentine Mathurin, curator at the Drac des Pays-de-la-Loire, speaks of “an immense loss of heritage”. “This painting was important in several ways,” explains the one who has been to the scene regularly since the disaster to take care of the other works. Flandrin was a great and well-known painter of the 19th century. The work also has a very strong link with the history of the place since it is a commission from the cathedral, thanks to a donation from a benefactor to the clergy in 1833. Saint-Clair, who is represented on this miracle scene, is the first bishop of the diocese of Nantes. "

Renovator of religious painting

Listed as a historical monument and state property, the painting was one of the first religious works of the painter from Lyon (1809-1864), who was one of Ingres's favorite pupils. "After this painting, he will become one of the most important renovators of religious painting," explains Jean-Rémi Touzé, curator in charge of the 19th century collections at the Nantes Museum of Arts. After the Revolution, the churches were to be restored and Flandrin was to be awarded numerous commissions for large Parisian churches, such as that of Saint-Germain-des-Prés where he produced around twenty murals. We then speak of him as the new Fra Angelico. "

Jean-Rémi Touzé continues: “There is this very classic side, inspired by the Renaissance, and at the same time this ability to transcribe human feelings. We often find this superposition: there is the ideal of drawing, light, but also very pronounced shadows and deep gazes. "

"His place was obviously at the cathedral"

Less monumental, Saint Clair healing the blind was therefore one of the major works. Should it be kept here? "Its place was obviously in the cathedral, it is there that it has all its meaning as the work was intrinsically linked to the place", estimates Clémentine Mathurin, while voices are raised as for the conservation of works in the places of worship.

Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 10th, 12th, 17th and 19th centuries, and which we never tire of discovering the extraordinary decoration of Hippolyte Flandrin finally returned to us. pic.twitter.com/IpxEpgwhS6

If the original is considered “irreplaceable”, a copy, in a very reduced model (made by Paul, Hippolyte's brother, also a painter), is kept at the Louvre. Two other famous works by Flandrin can be seen at the Nantes Museum of Arts. Next year, they will be loaned to the Musée des beaux-arts de Lyon, which is preparing a retrospective dedicated to the work of this great 19th century master, also known for his portraits.

Society

Nantes cathedral fire: damaged stones, destroyed organ ... How will the reconstruction take place?

Nantes

Nantes cathedral fire: What we know about the disaster

• Heritage
• Painting
• Nantes
• Culture