This post is a little French extra which recalls the unconventional burial.
For years, I wanted to visit the site of the Palais Ideal (the ideal palace) by Joseph Ferdinand Cheval at Hauterives, France. I've seen some pictures of it and wanted to visit this wonderland monument. This wish came true a few years ago. Unfortunately, I have no access to my original pictures.
 |
| http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Palais_ideal_-_Hauterives.JPEG |
The idea of building this palace came when he stumbled on a rock he found pretty and interesting.
 |
| [The famous rock] http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Facteur_Cheval_-_Pierre_d_achoppement.jpg |
You can notice...
HOW DETAILED his work is:
 |
| [East side of the building] http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Facteur_Cheval_-_Fa%C3%A7ade_Est.jpg & [North side of the building] http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Facteur_Cheval_-_D%C3%A9tail_fa%C3%A7ade_Nord.jpg |
And HOW VARIED were his inspirations:
 |
| [Swiss Chalet] http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Facteur_Cheval_-_Chalet_suisse.jpg & [Hindu Temple] http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Facteur_Cheval_-_Temple_hindou.jpg |
Those are only a few samples of the building. But there are far more different influences (space, time and so on): Eastern or Western, Middle Age or more contemporary architectures, Eastern or Western religions, representations of humans, animals and plants.
When Cheval finished his masterpiece, he declared that he wanted to be buried in it. However, he was faced with
_a restrictive funerary law: he could only be buried in it unless he was cremated,
_a restrictive funerary practice: cremation was uncommon in France at that time if not frowned upon.
So the poor man had to content himself with a more conventional, MORE MODEST but still BEAUTIFUL TOMB he also built with his bare hands for 8 years in the village cemetery!!!
 |
| http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Tombeau_Facteur_Cheval.JPG |
This is the sad story of Ferdinand Cheval. He left 2 wonderful monuments which demanded a high investment...
_in money? NOPE : he was a postman. Remember? The only material he used were found and recycled rocks and pebbles, and lime, cement and mortar;
_in time? YES : the construction of both buildings lasted 41 years!
_from people and his survivors? WRONG again : he built both monuments all by himself, and he died alone as he was twice married, twice a widower and his children have died before him.
Did he get the funeral he wanted? OF COURSE NOT.
CONCLUSION
This is again an example (or an exception) of a burial which does not reflect one's assumptions when meeting the site without background knowledge. It does not reflect one's sociopolitical or economic status. I don't think it reflects one's gender, except if we look at the man's remains. Neither does it reflect his relationship with the survivors. Cheval paid himself this tribute with long and hard work.
No comments:
Post a Comment