Yan’Dargent was born in Saint-Servais in 1824. In the years that followed, while France prepared for its industrial revolution, he was first a public works designer, then a railway works inspector. At the same time, he unleashed his multiple talents as a painter, draftsman and engraver. His art will be expressed in illustrations of prestigious works, large-scale paintings of sacred art, and other more modest ones.
The accuracy of his actions will be recognized to the point of being named Knight of the Legion of Honor. This decoration will be given to him in particular to reward his work at the Saint-Corentin cathedral in Quimper, which concentrates the most important decorative program he has carried out.
A fantastic universe and realistic talent
In this year of the bicentenary of its birth, the association of Friends of the Yan’ Dargent museum, in collaboration with several municipalities (Morlaix, Landerneau, Saint-Pol-de-Léon and Quimper), will highlight the influence of the artist on the region, his fantastical universe and his realistic talent, striking from every point of view.
Thus, a route entitled “In the footsteps of Yan’ Dargent” will be set up. It is the result of a collaboration between Ronan Hirrien, president of the Friends of the museum, Bernard Michel, mayor of Saint-Servais, Béatrice Riou, deputy director of the Morlaix museum, Aurélie Maguet, cultural manager of the City of Landerneau, and David Gourlay, general director of services in Saint-Pol-de-Léon.
It all starts in Saint-Servais…
“First of all, in Saint-Servais, the town where the artist was born, the museum and parish enclosure complex is today the place that best reveals the dimension of Yan’Dargent,” comments Ronan Hirrien. » Open from June 29 to August 31, the Yan’ Dargent museum exhibits a wide range of his painted works and a large collection of drawings and illustrated books by the artist. This summer, two special spotlights will highlight the illustration of the book “The Divine Comedy”, by Dante, dating from 1879, and a preparatory drawing of the painting “The Death of Salaün ar Foll”, on loan from the Léon de Lesneven Museum. .
Saint-Servais is also an ideal starting point for a walk. The Yan’ Dargent hiking trail passes Ti Robée, the painter’s birthplace, and places that inspired him.
Activities in Quimper, Landerneau, Saint-Pol…
Other events are planned in Finistère to celebrate this bicentenary. In Morlaix, the Maison à Pondalez will host an exhibition on Yan’Dargent from June 15 to September 30. In Saint-Pol-de-Léon, the painting “The Little Leonardo Girl”, listed as a Historical Monument and property of the municipality, is exhibited at the town hall and visible during opening hours. The Breton artist is also at the origin of the stained glass windows “Crucifixion of our Lord on Calvary” and “Transfiguration”, in Plouneventer.
In Landerneau, until November 3, the Rohan gallery presents four contemporary artists who have established sensitive connections with the work of the artist from Saint-Servais. Furthermore, in the same city, the church of Saint-Houardon hosts thirteen of his works. On the Brest side, the Museum of Fine Arts is exhibiting, until September 1, the painting “Children on the cliff of Pen-Hir”.
At the Quimper Museum of Fine Arts, the famous and terrifying painting “Washerwomen of the Night” is visible, alongside a very important collection of drawings and studies. Workshops and visits for children, in conjunction with Yan’Dargent, will be organized at the museum every Friday from July 12 to August 23. Finally, for those who would be players, there is a geocaching course (a form of treasure hunt geolocated by GPS) totally dedicated to the life of Yan’ Dargent.
