HISTORY. The members of the Shal celebrated, yesterday Sunday, November 17, the day of remembrance, centered around the inauguration of the stele in memory of Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, a local personality whose actions, of international scope, are to study.
“Thank you for your presence today, in the cool weather of All Saints’ Day,” begins Pierre Gariot, president of the Historical and Archaeological Society of Langres (Shal), in the introduction to a quick presentation speech preceding an intervention by Olivier Caumont , curator of the Langres museums. “We are gathered today to celebrate Remembrance Day, with a visit to the Collinière cemetery,” he said, yesterday Sunday, November 17, in the morning. Before adding: “It’s a special visit. It will be marked by the inauguration of the long-awaited stele in homage to Girault de Prangey. »
The project had been anticipated for four years now but, with Covid having been there, its realization had to wait until the end of 2024, as the president underlined, not a little proud that it was finally realized. A tribute supported by Olivier Caumont, who took over to offer the thirty or so people in attendance a biography of the main facts to remember about this local personality, “whose brands in the South Haut-Marne disappear soon little by little.”
A complete, complex life…
“An extraordinary life for a man whose actions are too little known today,” begins Olivier Caumont, before launching into an explanation of the highlights of the life of Girault de Prangey. We thus learn that this illustrious character from Langres lived a very eventful life, practicing in numerous fields and using numerous techniques in his different centers of interest which are photography, architecture, history, Art, travel, discovery and preservation of heritage.
Olivier Caumont also sends a nod to the Historical and Archaeological Society of Langres, of which Girault de Prangey is one of the founders, in addition to having devoted part of his work to the creation of a first museum in Langres , while taking care of the preservation and analysis of the ramparts and other monuments of his city that he loved so much. The research carried out over several years has also made it possible to gradually bring his work up to date, both locally and internationally: an exhibition on his subject took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. .
Accompanied by isolated articles, two university studies, and Langrois projects! Posthumous glory for his actions? In any case, after attentively listening to these explanations, the visit continued for the thirty people present with a tour of the remarkable tombs present at La Collinière, with the passionate explanations of Pierre Gariot, Olivier Caumont and the members of the association.
From our correspondent
Roman Kennel
Girault de Prangey: a versatile artist
Born in 1804 and died in 1892, Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey grew up in Haute-Marne and became a man of many facets: archaeologist, architectural historian, pioneer of photography, artist, etc. He leaves behind a rich legacy scientific and artistic in the department, in France and even internationally. A pioneer of photography and a great traveler, during his life he visited a good part of France, the Alpine zone, but also all the countries of the Mediterranean basin, passing through Algeria, Morocco, Andalusia, Sicily, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and many others.
At a time when traveling was a risk, many did not return alive. He then built a villa in his image south of Langres, more precisely on the Domaine des Tuaires in Courcelles Val d’Esnoms. When he died, not much remained of what he wanted to offer as a will: the villa and gardens quickly disappeared, his tomb dismantled. The Historical and Archaeological Society of Langres is thus partly reviving the memory of this illustrious character whose life is too often overlooked.
