For Brigitte de Larochelambert, “stained glass windows are a work of art”

This is her eighth book. Not the least surprising from Brigitte de Larochelambert. Which, “passionate about colors and painting”after the remarkable places of Vienne, this time explores the world of modern and contemporary stained glass windows in Poitou (1). Which the former teacher and mayor of Liniers deciphers through 162 photos gathered in this book where the reader can pick and choose according to his curiosity. Meeting.

Why be interested in church stained glass windows?

Brigitte de Larochelambert: “This book had been hanging in my head for a long time. When hiking or traveling, I systematically visit churches where I have an eye on the stained glass windows. I started to do a reconnaissance before drawing up a list of sites to visit. When the churches were closed, I made appointments with the parish leaders or town halls to get the keys.”

What do stained glass windows represent to you?

“A work of art. Here, it was a question of presenting all kinds of stained glass windows in Vienne and Deux-Sèvres from 1900 to the present day: patriotic, anecdotal, religious or purely decorative, which replaced the stained glass windows destroyed by wars or wear and tear.”

Each work and its author are very detailed.

“We needed a description of each one, if possible an explanation, which is not always easy for contemporary stained glass windows, or a brief biblical explanation when it came to historiated stained glass windows. I wanted there to be a biographical note of the master glaziers, who are artists, information that does not always appear in churches or guides for these marvelous creators.”

Have you contacted them directly?

“Yes. Thierry Gilhodez, in the Gard, Jean-Jacques Fangat, in Lyon, but also master glassmakers from the region like Sébastien Trouvé, in Lussac, or Frédéric Pivert, in Valdivienne. So many interesting people, really nice, who love to talk about what they have done.”

Were they surprised?

“I went there on the cheek. I told them that I was passionate about stained glass. I myself had some installed in my village of Liniers in 2000.”

Do you have a favorite master glassmaker?

“My big favorite is Louis Mazetier, a master glassmaker from Vendée. In the book, we discover his stained glass windows in Champagné-Saint-Hilaire and Faye-l’Abbesse. He has a sense of assembly and color matching. I find it splendid. Afterwards, I won’t say which ones I don’t like…”

(1) “Modern and contemporary stained glass windows” on sale in Poitiers (Gibert, La Procure, Super U avenue du 8-Mai-45), Chauvigny (Bravard), Châtellerault (bookstore place Dupleix), Ligugé (monastic bookstore), Saint-Georges (Super U), Vivonne (Maison de la presse).