14 mai 2011 - Les Niches Mariales

SAMEDI

Sarlat habitually hosts tours honoring the city's patrimoine (heritage). Currently, Galérie André Malraux houses the exhibit "Les oubliées de Sarlat" which is about the history of the Virgin Mary statues in Sarlat. 

A map of Sarlat identifies the Virgin Mary Niches; there are forty-eight (27 with statues, 17 without statues, 4 destroyed). In Sarlat, the niches began appearing outside domestic residences at the end of the Middle Ages, though even through the twentieth century they continued to be added.

Statues sculpted by Maurice Albe (1900-1995). Monsieur Albe grew up in Sarlat (has a street named after him). As an artist of many mediums, he was a director and professor at the École Municipale de Dessin et des Arts Décoratifs de Périgueux from 1947 to 1990.  

In the art gallery, the guide explains the history of Virgin Mary niches in Sarlat to the about dozen people that showed up. Then we take a short walking tour where the guide identifies some niches.

A destroyed niche. An empty niche.

After the tour we go to City Hall where there is a lecture by an art historian who explains the presence of the Virgin Mary in art and concludes the presentation with some insight into the niches mariales of Sarlat.

The room was very ornate. Following the lecture drinks and snacks were set out for the attendees of this free guided visit. I don't think anything in France happens without an apératif.

On my way out of City Hall.

Outside the city is bustling with performances that are part of le Festival des Arts en Folie.