Homage to a bricklayer
The Darche d'Estrade hotel (formerly the Saint-François hotel), built in 1850 by the contractor Antoine-Théodore Audubert, had a very damaged mason on its north façade. (Today the facade is completedly renovated.)
Legend has it that this is a bricklayer who bet that he would hold up a very heavy stone while it was being sealed to the balcony. Too presumptuous, he died as a result of this effort.
In reality, the architect added this sculpture to embellish the façade, taking as his model Jean-Louis Fargue, who was involved in the construction of the building and was said to have Herculean strength.
(Vintage, Sept 1995, Nikon FM2, probably on Fujichrome 100)
Homage to a bricklayer
The Darche d'Estrade hotel (formerly the Saint-François hotel), built in 1850 by the contractor Antoine-Théodore Audubert, had a very damaged mason on its north façade. (Today the facade is completedly renovated.)
Legend has it that this is a bricklayer who bet that he would hold up a very heavy stone while it was being sealed to the balcony. Too presumptuous, he died as a result of this effort.
In reality, the architect added this sculpture to embellish the façade, taking as his model Jean-Louis Fargue, who was involved in the construction of the building and was said to have Herculean strength.
(Vintage, Sept 1995, Nikon FM2, probably on Fujichrome 100)