Abstract
The restoration of the Dianas room, Montbrison, in the XIXth century (1862-1866), by Marie- Hélène Chazelle. The Diana's room was built and decorated at the end of the XIHth century, probably when Jean Ier, count of Forez, married Alix de Viennois in 1296. His decor covers a gothic-arch panelled vault and is made of heraldic patterns which are painted in 1692 coffers. There are coats of arms from families closely related to the Forez family. Morever the room is decorated with a frieze painted on wood planks, which alternates blazons and fantastic animals : this frieze just takes place at the beginning of the vault. Sold in 1791 as « bien national », the building was bought by several owners and let in neglected state. From 1841, Georges de Soultrait and Anatole de Barthélémy, both local scholars and members of the Société française d'Archéologie, rediscovered these decorations. The second recalled the existence of the Diana's room, twice in the Bulletin monumental. In 1862, the Duke of Persigny, Minister of the Interior under Napoléon the Third, decided to restore the Dianas room and to create a learned society called « Société de la Diana ». He was helped by the Montbrison town council, which purchased the building from its last owner. In 1862, Persigny seemed to get in touch with Eugène Viollet-le-Duc who was asked for a restoration pilot study. Eventually an architect from Lyon, Henry Lebrun, was in charge of the renovation site. On the death of Lebrun in May 1863, the architect of the Town of Saint-Étienne, Louis Mazerat, took his place. Modest façades made in cob were destroyed to be rebuilt of stone from Tournus in Gothic revival style. Work on the painted decoration of the Diana's room aimed at changing and repainting nearly the whole panelled vault and frieze of fantastic animals. A huge refurbishment was commissioned, the best example is the creation of bookcases for the collections of the learned society.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call