In , they are bringing a huge forgotten painting back to life…

Par

Christopher Lebranchu

Published on

Dec 8 2024 at 5:30 p.m.

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It took little hands to restore its color of yesteryear to this painting in XXL dimensions.

4.70 m wide by 2.30 m high. It's a unusual painting which has been brought out of oblivion. “In 2022, Michel Roger bequeaths us this fresco. We had to restore », underlines Martine Robbes, deputy mayor of Saint-Germain-de-Tallevende (Vire ).

The 1987 work represents the Butte aux Cerfs, with a breathtaking view of the Dathée and its hills. It measures 4.70 m by 2.30 m. ©Christopher LEBRANCHU

The work is signed by Jean-Claude Quinette. It was painted in 1987 and many Virois will recognize the painted landscape. “It’s the view from the Butte aux Cerfs restaurant,” the artist tells us almost 37 years later. The board asked two months of work. “It was the first time I had done such a large painting.” And it will also be the only time for this painter who will have spent his entire career between Honfleurthe and for several years Villedieu-les-Poêles.

The work will even more evoke a memory for people who visited at the Butte aux Cerers that the painting was, until its closure in 1992, enthroned on a section of wall in the dining room.

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This is also the reason why the painting was not hung on the wall of the Saint-Germain town hall upon its reception by the mayor two years ago. Blackened by the restaurant fireplace“it had to be cleaned. Rolled up, it was put aside for 30 years.”

This high-flying cleaning mission was entrusted to the delicate and meticulous hands of Wei Hulley. The painter of Chinese origin gives drawing lessons in the delegated commune every Wednesday afternoon. Graduated from arts schools in China and “we entrusted the canvas to his expert hands ».

Vire painting
Jean-Claude Quinette, the painter of the painting, and Wei Hulley, its restorer. ©Christopher LEBRANCHU

It took two weeks for the to clean“in the water”, delicately. Wei Hulley also paints landscapes, in watercolor, “it’s great to be able to work on such a large painting. It makes me want to get started too.”

After the intervention of Vire Normandy agents who created a tailor-made aluminum and wood framethe painting was hung in the entrance to the town hall. The result is bluffing. Everyone is today invited to come and discover this painting too impressive in both its size and quality.

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