This breaks my heart. My dear friend Francois Hagnere has started a petition to save the Church of Arc-sur-tille from a horrible fate. This French Neo-Classical church in Burgundy was originally designed by architect and sculptor Claude Saint-Père, and within the structure, there are artistic reproductions of the “Baptism of Christ” by Hyppolite Flandrin, the “Virgin’s Wedding” by Raphael and in the middle the famous “Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci. It is imperiled. Let’s save it!
An association: UEPA 50, rue de la Cras, F-21560 Arc-sur-Tille, France is fighting to save this church and restore it. Many personalities and people from all walks of life have signed the petition and donated. I invite you to join them and thus participate in the safeguard of a jewel of architecture. The address of the association site: http://www.uepa.fr/Read more about the Church of Arc-sur-tille By Francois
Note: The petition is in French, but if you have any questions, feel free to contact Francois and he'll let you know exactly how to go about it.
10 Comments:
Thank you very much for your support Lauren. We are working hard to safeguard this magnificent church, we need you all!
Thanks everybody,
François HAGNERE
The article in English
http://trifter.com/europe/france/lets-save-the-church-of-arc-sur-tille/
My blog: http://www.rochefort-usa-friendship.blogspot.com
I cannot believe this is actually a true story. And I suppose the reason is to either knock it down or let it keep falling into disrepair is for lack of funds.
We can find money easily to rebuild a McDonald's or rehab a shopping mall. But this church that is home to such history and safeguards works from Raphael to Leonardo da Vinci, not to mention it is also the home to the "Last Supper" amazes me to no end.
I'm sorry but you can call this a my American response, but in the States we are so woefully broke and going more in debt each day because we decided to be the police of the world. The separation between the haves and have-nots looms larger every single day here in NY and I am sure most everywhere else. I find it hard that the generous American is yet again asked to help fund a project in a country like France.
If I were a French citizen I would not think twice then to have my countrymen and my government find a way to restore this irreplaceable treasure on our own.
I cannot feel guilty nor apologize for this rant. But it sickens me that someone has the balls to ask for help from the American public. No matter how noble of a cause.
This is part of your heritage, donate one less week of vacation, or ask one of your other Euro countries and do it as a matter of pride.
I think anyone from the US who donates money for this cause, should put in the caveat to have it sent here and display it next to the London Bridge.
Besides has anyone bothered to look around and see that the Chinese owns the US now. Perhaps the French should ask them. They can afford it, hell they have all of our jobs.
My apologizes to you Lauren for this comment, must have been something I ate, or maybe sometimes you just feel enough is enough.
I hope they are able to save it. We had a similar dilemma several years ago with a church in Detroit. It was one of the very first buildings in our existence, and it was left over from when it was still a French settlement. Luckily, they decided to restore it, and it is still in use today. I hope they decide the same with the church in your post.
The I can't help feeling you're being a bit harsh. The appeal is primarily for signatures to a petition, though they obviously do hope also for donations.
This church is in a small community of something less than 3000 people. They have been appealing to the appropriate government departments since 2006 as far as I can see, and have raised enough money to have the church cleaned and protected against damp. The municipality contributed 10% and the rest from UEPA (Une Eglise Pour Arc sur Tille).
France is very much in favour of protecting its heritage, whether historical or cultural, but they have an enormous number of good causes and funds are necessarily limited. Because this community is so small it's hardly surprising they outsiders will be approached and I would think the first port of call would be to like-minded people of any nationality. I don't for one minute think the call was to the American public as a whole, to the exclusion of any other.
One other point, the frescos are all three reproductions: the original Last Supper is in Milan.
@Sheila
I changed that rendition to reproduction to be more clear.
I can see your point of view very clearly. There are people there that do want to help, however they may not be in the financial situation to do anything.
@Ratty
I hope they do restore it. I just get frustrated by all the politics to get it done.
I have to intervene as this is highly disrespectful.
I am an INDIAN & NOT a CHRISTIAN. Yet, I chose to take on this cause with Francios and do my bit in saving the church.
It is not ALL about money. There is something called love and passion. A fine monument such as this must not go.
So what if he is a Frenchman and is asking us all to help a lending hand? Can't we be citizens of the world? I am saddened that you look at yourself as an American alone, and nothing beyond.
Francois wrote "I would like to thank Sheila that really understood the situation.
Art is universal and we are trying to save this church. My article was not solely intended to the American people but to the world.
I feel very sorry this lead to a rant from one person here.
I would like to ask this person if he ever visited the Cloisters in NY or if he knows who built the Statue of Liberty. I also wrote an article on the Cloisters on triond. Please enjoy!
Thanks for your interest.
Best regards to all,
François"
Hey Lauren,
I am sorry with all the caps. It just felt hurtful when someone said something like that, especially about Francois. I can't take anything against my bro. Sorry and I respect you immensely.
It just saddens me that some people can't see the bigger picture. It is their handicap, per me.
Thx for your efforts!
Rox
@PhoenixRox
Please don't feel bad about voicing your opinion. I do it all the time, and really, I don't do it as much as I should. Truly, I am a face of many colors and that's the main reason I have never chosen a religion. I think I have to stay open to all causes and sorts of different people. I think it keeps me grounded.
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