Saturday 1 March 2008

Nine Popes

Today 1st of March, City Daily bloggers worldwide chose "street murals and graffiti" as their monthly theme. I've already shown you a good number of graffiti here and there so how about a commissioned work for a change? This one could only be found here, it's "The nine Popes of Avignon" painted in the year 2000 by Agnes Saint Gal de Pons to decorate a blind wall in rue dorée. It evokes the nine Catholic popes which for a variety of reasons resided in Avignon rather than Rome between 1305 and 1403. From Clement V to Benoit XIII, each of these popes (see full list here) worked at building, fortifying, extending and embellishing the papal residence, the Popes' Palace, which today remains Avignon's central landmark. Rue dorée being a tiny back street, I doubt many tourists have seen this mural.

Aujourd'hui 1er mars, le thème choisi par les city daily bloggers est "murs peints et graffitis". Puisque je vous ai déjà abreuvé de graffitis ici et , j'ai préféré cette fois-ci vous présenter une oeuvre officielle et qu'on ne pourrait voir nulle part ailleurs : "Les Neuf Papes d'Avignon", une fresque d'Agnès Saint Gal de Pons qui depuis l'an 2000 anime brillamment une façade aveugle dans la rue Dorée. De Clément V à Benoît XIII on y retrouve les portraits des neuf papes qui de 1305 à 1403 et pour des raisons diverses ont résidé à Avignon et non à Rome : Retrouvez leurs noms et toute l'histoire ici. Tous ont contribué à la construction, à l'extension, à la fortification et à l'embellissement de la résidence papale, le Palais des Papes, qui reste aujourd'hui le plus célèbre monument de la ville. La rue dorée étant une toute petite rue, je ne pense pas que les touristes soient nombreux à connaître cette fresque.

Now how about a world tour of graffiti and street murals? Click on the city links below, remembering that due to time zones some messages may appear only later today:

Si ça vous dit, en route pour un tour du monde des graffitis et des murs peints. Cliquez sur les noms des villes, en vous souvenant qu'avec le décalage horaire certains messages sortiront en retard :

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Bucaramanga, Colombia by Fernando, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Detroit (MI), USA by Taittems, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Jsaltao, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montréal, Canada by Douber, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiIteanu, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK by Cassie & Chris, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Radonvilliers, France by Deslilas, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rome, Italy by Giovanni, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation by Lark, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Terre Haute (IN), USA by Zann, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Wrocław, Poland by Loompi, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

Il y a eu en fait SEPT papes en Avignon, les deux derniers étant des "anti-papes" du grand schisme (il y avait deux papes, un à Rome et un à Avignon, pour faire simple).

Marie-Noyale said...

Tu connais deja tous les petites cachettes de ta ville!! et tu nous les fais partager,quelle chance...

I enjoy very much the last picture,with the idea of what it would look like if I was walking on the streets of Avignon..
Great choice.have a good WE.

Anonymous said...

Elle est très belle cette fresque mais alors que dire de la barrière rouge devant, elle gâche beaucoup l'ensemble. Je remarque que les papes n'ont pas tous la même coiffe. Peut-être que Monsieur X devrait s'en inspirer pour changer son look, vous ne trouvez pas? :-) merci pour cette petite découverte et bon WE.

Kate said...

Europe is full of great art work, in museums and on the streets. Like this one very much, esp. because of the history lesson.

George Townboy said...

These shots are magnificent! Great history, too.

Jilly said...

Nathalie,I was just visiting you as your comment came thru! I'd found you even if you are not on the list - and goodness, what murals. These are just beautiful.

And yes, no graffiti in Menton although we do have young - honestly we do! Look at me, for starters....!

All the French people know the poem.

Nathalie H.D. said...

Michel is right, only seven of the Popes who resided in Avignon were official ones, the last two were rebels, 'anti-Popes'! You'd have to go back to the great chasm which divided the Catholic church in those years to explain that one. I chose to adhere strictly to the mural's title : "Avignon's nine popes"...

Nathalie H.D. said...

Michel Benoit a raison, il aurait fallu revenir au grand schisme pour raconter les anti-Papes. Pour cette fois-ci j'ai préféré m'en tenir strictement au titre de l'oeuvre : "les neufs Papes d'Avignon".

Les jours à thème, les visiteurs font souvent un tour express qui ne se prête guère aux longues lectures.

Bergson said...

Superbe mur qui va bien avec la ville

Sally said...

Love the ins and outs of schisms and the like. Just been reading Peter Robb's book about Caravaggio, "M"...of course 3 centuries after the Avignon popes, but oh! the back-stabbing, rivalry, dirty politics .... elite families vying with each other for the ultimate prize. Then the hangers-on from that family, be it Colonnas or Borgheses etc, became cardinals, and got rich!

Nice mural...nicely ticked away as a sort of "private entrance"!

Anonymous said...

Il faut rajouter à cela, que cette fresque a été peinte d'après neuf huiles sur toile, portraits de papes TOTALEMENT IMAGINAIRES peints au XIXe siècle !!!

Kunterbunt said...

A wonderful idea to paint them on that wall.

Neva said...

That is an awesome wall....good choice...

fr said...

Hola Nathalie, thanks to remember me the Theme Day (I forgot it completly).
Me encanta que te halla gustado la cancion de las chicharras

Nathalie H.D. said...

Michel, je ne savais pas ça. Croustillant détail !

M.Benaut said...

This will certainly be on my list of places to visit in September. As someone said, a wonderful history lesson and much to read about and study.
Sadly, our history is only just 200 years old, as you know. So we come to France and revel in real history.
Problem is; one doesn't have time for depth and quality of delving into the past. There is never enough time. My list is growing, - thanks so much for a brilliant post.

Ineke said...

This is beyond a street mural!

Clueless in Boston said...

Beautiful murals. And I'm glad you showed the murals in situ. I never would have guessed it was on such a narrow street.

Are the murals aging and peeling? Or is that part of the art? I love the colors, it gives it a certain Renaissance feel (at least to me who doesn't know art at all:)

Happy Theme Day!

Petrea Burchard said...

Beautiful.

Gregory Sey said...

Joli mur, jolie ruelle, jolie ville...

Fénix - Bostonscapes said...

What a wonderful choice for the theme! Exquisite paintings. And what a lovely view of Rue Dorée.

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

"Sacrés graffitis".

Felicia said...

Wow, awesome! I'm so glad you showed all the views - I didn't realize that they took up the whole side of the building.

Denton said...

Beautiful murals. I especially like your photo which shows all six together. It is sad to see the paint peeling away yet at the same time it seems to add urgency to what you are sharing. One day the murals will be gone.

claude said...

Wouaou ! Quelle bonne idée Marie pour ce thème du jour ! C'est formidable ! Et beau en plus !

claude said...

Oups ! Je voulais dire Nathalie d'Avignon et non pas Marie de Montpellier. Je m'emmèle les pinceaux !

Anonymous said...

Certains avignonnais tiendront à considérer 7 papes et non 9. En effet, l'histoire de la ville est parsemée de chiffres 7 : 7 lettres pour son nom (comme pour théâtre), 7 portes dans les remparts (à l'origine), 7 paroisses, 7 palais, 7 églises collégiales, 7 hôpitaux, 7 couvents de religieux, 7 monastères de filles, construction du fameux pont : 1177, départ des papes : 1377, 7 parkings payants surveillés, 1 avignonnais sur 7 habite intra-mluros, 7000 entreprises, création du festival : 1947 (Gérard Gelas est né le 7.7.1947), la ville est traversée par la nationale 7, la "Déclaration des sept" a précédé l'annulation du festival 2003... on pourrait en chercher encore !

Eric said...

Now, that's what I call Graffitis!! Street artists are so talented nowadays LOL!

Bon ça va je rigole. Pourquoi tu dis que tu as des dificultés à l'enregistrement sur le partail ? Ton blog apparaît bien pourtant.

Anonymous said...

Good choice and beautiful artwork! It lights up the street! Both the street view and your photograph of it are absolutely wonderful!

Cheers!

Unknown said...

I'm not catholic, so don't know much about popes, but these look very lifelike.

Gordon said...

Beautiful murals; yes as a mere tourist I missed them last year.

Ben Nakagawa said...

Wow. I've lost a word. Beautiful murals!

isa said...

Would it be sacrilegious for me to point out that Pope Benoit III is really hot? ;-)

Gerald (SK14) said...

what a fabulous mural!

Nathalie H.D. said...

For those of you wondering, the peeling effect is actually part of the painting, suggestive of an ancient fresco style.

This piece was done in 2000 and the paint isn't peeling at all!

kuanyin333 said...

These are truly magnificent! The first photo made me go hey!--what a handsome pope! I've never thought of Popes as 'handsome' before! This is an exceptional posting!

Anonymous said...

Quel grand choix pour le jour de thème. Regardant la version plus grande j'ai été heurté par le détail dans l'image.

Kim said...

This is so interesting, and I wish I could go with Sally when she visits and takes a personal look. I had never heard of the Popes going to Avignon.
-Kim
Seattle Daily Photo

Squirrel said...

Wonderful shots!

Peter said...

This is really nice graffiti art!! I hope this will remain untouched.

I made a post in September about some nice graffiti that had been made on shop and restaurant shutters rue Cavalotti , just downhill from Montmartre. Unfortunately some less gifted taggers have destroyed most of them.

The D in D & T said...

A stunning mural, clearly a gifted artist, and beautiful photography.

Thank you for your very kind comments yesterday, they are really very much appreciated. :)

ichandrae said...

formidable!
c'est l'art historique, precieux trouve dans une petite rue et pas protege contre le vandalisme.
c'est romantique
et certes pas de ma culture canadienne moderne.

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