SAINT THIBAULT EN AUXOIS, COTE D'OR, BURGUNDY, FRANCE
HELP US RAISE 50,000 EUROS TOWARDS THE INTERNAL RESTORATION OF THIS BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC CHURCH!
Giclee prints, strictly limited to 250 copies on fine art, museum quality Hanne Muhle Torchon paper with inks guaranteed for at least seventy-five years, numbered and signed by the artist, complete with certificate of authenticity - image size 24" x 20"
(Quotation available for framing - for collection only in Gloucestershire)
6 cards for £10.00 + p&p
This is the first time that K B Hancock has ever reproduced one of his French landscapes and gives everyone a chance to 'have a Hancock on their wall'.
Elisabeth, wife of KBH, writes:
For the last three years, Ken and I have stayed in Burgundy on our way to and from the Cote d'Azur. Two of our dearest friends live in a small village called St Thibault with only 150 inhabitants, not far from Dijon and Beaune. In the village is a magnificent church with a tower that is quite out of proportion to its surroundings. The locals call it 'the cathedral in the fields' and it is an important church on an ancient pilgrimage route of fourteen St Thibaults in France and Italy.
It was built in the late 13th century to house relics of St Thibault which became the object of great veneration, particularly by the Dukes of Burgundy.. The tall elegant apse (27 metres high) of this gothic sanctuary is unique of its type. It houses works of art of great interest; an alter of carved bas-reliefs of the life of St Thibault; a tomb with stone-carved figure of Jean de Til from 1306, beautiful statues of the Virgin and 19th century mahogany panelling. Like many churches, it is in poor repair and needs money - 2,000,000 euros to be precise - to put it back into good condition externally and internally.
We visited the church for the first time this year and were enthralled by its charm and history and saddened at its poor condition. We met the Mayor and the President, Vice-President and Treasurer of 'Les Amis de St Thibault', charitable association formed last year to raise money - 10 euros to join, car boot sales, etc, all adding a few euros to the coffers, but not enough to make a difference. 'If we can raise 50,000 euros', they said, 'we can get another 95% from various government departments to start the renovation work'. So KB offered to paint the picture you see above. Sales of the lithographs and cards will give the 50,000 euros we have promised.
View les Amis St Thibault en Auxois in Burgundy
4 August 2008
We made a special visit to Burgundy for the presentation of the painting to the people of Saint Thibault en Auxois. It was received with great excitement and appreciation. Within three months of starting the project, we had raised 6,000 euros.
6 and 7 September 2008
As Ken's ambassador, I was invited to the meeting of over 25 Friends of St Thibault from France and Italy in Badia Polesine, near Venice, near which St Thibault spent the last few years of his life as a hermit and of which he is patron saint. A warm welcome was given by Amici de San Theobaldo, the Mayor and the Bishop of Badia Polesine. We visited various churches and chapels associated with St Thibault and discussed plans for the re-instatement of a pilgrimage route through France, Italy and Belgium, based as much on history, culture and tourism as religion. It really was a weekend for making new friends as well as raising money.
St Thibault websites in ;
France ;
Italy ;
Short history of St Thibault in English
Spring 2009
A fund-raising dinner is to be held at Chateau de Chailly, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, courtesy of Mike Sata, the owner, at which the painting will be auctioned. It is hoped that at this time, KBH will have finished a second, semi-abstract painting which will also be reproduced as a limited edition lithograph.
Elisabeth and Ken thank all Les Amis de Saint Thibault en Auxois for their support and to Regis Clerc for his beautiful photographs of the church. Many thanks also to Bespoke Imaging who have worked so hard to produce a magnificent Giclee reproduction of the painting.
Bespoke Imaging | Email: regis.clerc@gmail.com
This page will be updated regularly with news of our project.