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| this picture and the next two (May 2008) courtesy of Bruno Montpied, from his weblog |
Life and works
Raymond Guitet (1876-1956) lived in Sauveterre de Guyenne, a community in the south-west of France. He was a market-gardener (jardinier) by profession, trading in vegetables, fruit, eggs and poultry. And he also was active in the local government acting as a deputy mayor during some periods before 1940.
In the late 1940s he began making sculptures which he displayed in his garden, working in the same tradition as Gabriel Albert, Fernand Chatelain, Rene Escaffre and others. It is somewhat curious to note that some authors describe him as a humble edition of the Palais Ideal, since facteur Cheval's concept was quite different
The website Habitants-Paysagistes (Lille Art Museum) has as series of photos by Francis David, which present the site as it original capacity.
After Guitet had passed away in 1956, the garden was no longer cared for. Apparently no one in the community felt inclined to help maintain the site, so the garden steadily declined.
The photo below (by Bruno Montpied) shows how in May 2008 the site looked like.
It´s tragic, such a decay.
The garden has been referred to as zoological, and indeed Raymond Guitet has created a number of sculpted animals. But he also made sculptures of personalities, famous ones like Jeanne d' Arc and general leClerc, and allegorical ones like the three wise men (hear, see, keep silent...)
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| Jeanne d´Arc |
The site is in decay
After Guitet had passed away in 1956, the garden was no longer cared for. Apparently no one in the community felt inclined to help maintain the site, so the garden steadily declined.
The photo below (by Bruno Montpied) shows how in May 2008 the site looked like.
Many sculptures have been stolen and most of those still present (like Jeanne d´Arc, above) are in decay.
Bruno Montpied, author of the weblog le Poignard Subtil, in his post of May 31 2008 has reported about his visit to the garden, describing it's grandeur and décadence.
Bruno Montpied, author of the weblog le Poignard Subtil, in his post of May 31 2008 has reported about his visit to the garden, describing it's grandeur and décadence.
It´s tragic, such a decay.
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situation in 2017 photo by Sophie Lepetit |
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| situation in 2024 photo by Sonia Terhzaz |
Being that as it is, let´s keep in mind the text on the money-box and let's remember Raymond Guitet as the creator of one of France's interesting art environments.
Documentation
* Photos by Francis David of the site before its neglect on the website Habitants-Paysagistes (Lille Art Museum)
Raymond Guitet
Le jardin zoologique
Sauveterre de Guyenne, dept Gironde, region Nouvelle Aquitaine, France
site in decay
site in decay
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