A book on the stained glass windows of Orne, these “artistic treasures” of churches

Despite its religious-sounding title, Let there be light: stained glass in Ornea beautiful work of 160 pages illustrated with 200 photos, is primarily interested in stained glass from an aesthetic point of view and churches which shelter them from a historical point of view.

Servanne Desmoulins-Hémerythe author, prefers to define herself as a historian rather than an art historian.

The concern for transmission

The child from Alençonwho became a curator of antiques and objects of art more than 40 years ago, had the time to explore Orne and its churches – “ there are nearly 600, chapels included » – and its religious art, including its stained glass windows.

This essential figure in the Departmental Archives has known for a long time Francis Bouquerel, teacher in media language by training, author of several works on Orne and Sées, where he lives. Both have in common, in addition to municipal political experience in their cities, a taste for beauty in history and a desire to share their knowledge.

The former head of the Heritage and Museums mission for the Department had already contributed to several collective books as part of her professional or associative activities, but this time she signed all the texts of Let there be light: stained glass in Orne. And would like to point out that it was Francis Bouquerel who proposed the idea of ​​such a work, “during confinement”.

Admirer of Louis Barillet, artist from Alençon

Monopolized by the finalization of the virtual tour of the museum of religious art in Sées, an innovative project, “equivalent in mass of work to an 800-page book”, she first asks him to wait… a little. By the time the president of the association of curators of antiques and objects of art in France, from 2000 to 2012, retires at the beginning of 2023.

It was from that moment that she was able to devote herself, for six months, to writing the texts accompanying Francis Bouquerel’s 200 photos.

Despite the sacred union around the stained glass window, Servanne Desmoulins-Hémery and Francis Bouquerel each have their preferences.

The Parisian glassmaker Paul Bonylinked to the post-war period, and associated with the painters Henri Matisse and Georges Chagall for him.

Louis Barillet for her. The Alençonnais (until the age of 20) acquired international fame from the interwar period and rubbed shoulders, among other big names of the Art Deco era, with the architect Robert Mallet Stevens. His son, Jean Barillet, then took over.

Although the stained glass window may remain in the collective imagination synonymous with ancient religious history, Servanne Desmoulins-Hémery wishes to clarify: “the cover of the book, with a stained glass window of Saint-Germain d’Argentan, dates “only” from the years 1980.”

Beyond just Catholics

And to explain the modern history of stained glass, he continues on the importance of the Catholic Reformation, in reaction to the Protestant Reformation, ratified by the Council of Trent in 1563: “Stained glass, until then very popular, fell into disuse in the 17th and 18th centuries. »

The revival of romantic interest in the 19th century was coupled with a return of stained glass, with Sèvres as the workshop for the revival, even if it was formed in England where the Anglican Church had never turned away from stained glass. “Stained glass does not escape the upheavals of history. »

Delegate administrator in Orne of the Églises Ouvertes France association, her latest associative commitment to date, Servanne Desmoulins-Hémery intends to make churches more accessible to the public, “beyond just Catholics”, and to familiarize herself with their “ artistic treasures”, often still too little known.

Let there be light: stained glass in Orne therefore looks like an additional stone from a lover of art and stories.

Let there be light: stained glass in Orne, by Servanne Desmoulins-Hémery and Francis Bouquerel. Available in bookstores (La Mésange bleue éditions), 160 pages, €28. Presentation in the presence of the authors Wednesday May 15, at 5 p.m., at the Hôtel du Département (27 boulevard de Strasbourg).

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