The Priest and The Devil (Art no.9) by sandra46

2D • Objects • posted on Jul 20, 2010

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Description

This is a good example of both popular art and humor, with a touch of peasant rebelliousness against mean-spirited, stingy petty local power. I remember a lot of saucy, dirty jokes at the expenses of priests and nuns, too domineering in my region until a decade ago, which my students told me during the lesson break-time. In some way,they were punishing their priests' arrogant and uncharitable behaviour. This is the so-called Devil of Bessans, at the Museum of the Savoy. Bessans is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhone-Alpes region in south-eastern France. Country of sculptors, Bessans is known for its popular religious art. Possibly the most famous subject is the devil, the emblem of Bessans, whose origin goes back only to 1857, however. This devil was created by Etienne Vincendet, who belonged to a family called, since the end of the 18th century, 'of the Saints' because of their talent in the carving of statues of saints. In 1857, the priest refused the cantors of Bessans their annual meals. To take his small revenge, Etienne Vincendet, cantor, carved a wooden statuette of a devil carrying a priest, and in the evening put it in front of the door of the presbytery. The priest suspected the author's identity, and brought the object back in front of Vincendet's house. This back-and-forth movement lasted one month, until the sculptor got tired first. A tourist saw the devil and bought it. Etienne Vincendet also carved hundreds of statuettes of Saints and the Holy ones, hence his nickname of Etienne of the Saints, but also more devils like this one in the museum. His son continued the tradition. Today, the devil of Bessans is reproduced on the postal flame of the village and ornates the fountain near the town hall. Thanks for your kind comments.

Comments (44)

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flaviok

10:30AM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Magnifica minha amiga, um texto excelente e uma captura contagiante, uma arte impressionante, aplausos (5)

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claude19

10:33AM | Tue, 20 July 2010

SPLENDID idea...good shot...wonderful explanations ! Thanks

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Hendesse

10:36AM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Great and interesting image. Superb colors.

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Madbat

10:42AM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Interesting history!

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bmac62

10:43AM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Fascinating local history well illustrated!

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durleybeachbum

10:50AM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Gosh, how interesting!Thankyou!

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MOSKETON

10:51AM | Tue, 20 July 2010

GENIAL COMO SIEMPRE, CON TU ESTILO. ALGUN DIA ME EXPLICARAS, SI QUIERES EL POR QUE DE TU AGRADABLE ESTILO ???

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magnus073

10:56AM | Tue, 20 July 2010

This is amazing Sandra, and I can't begin to thank you enough for sharing this with us. The story behind it was fascinating and the back and forth between the Priest and Vincendet must have been the talk of the town.

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lyron

11:04AM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Great image!!

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renecyberdoc

11:07AM | Tue, 20 July 2010

i know quite a few of nuns,like the ones when they ride the bicycle without a saddle and this line laugh. interesting.

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DarkStormCrow

12:01PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Very nice, well done....

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dochtersions

12:25PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Stunning coloring and design, Sandra. a bit creepy too. thanks for sharing this special one.

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carlx

12:29PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Fantastic colors and mood!!!

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jayfar

1:17PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Very fascinating and a moodt capture.

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jmb007

1:43PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

bonne image et commentaire!

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flora-crassella

1:44PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

great work!!!!!!

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Miska7

2:54PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Very nice image and information! Great capture!

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lucindawind

2:55PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

wow very dramatic work !

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CoreyBlack

4:37PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

This is fantastic! So brilliant, colorful and spooky. Reminds me of something from a bad drug trip. But there is a strange beauty amid the terror and onimiousness. I love the history and found the tit-for-tat game between the priest and the artist amusing. Lovely-frightening work.

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mgtcs

4:41PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Amazing image my dear, splendid colors and super interesting information, thank you for sharing!

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jeroni

5:59PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Splendid composition and colors my friend

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Danny_G

6:05PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Great colors and painterly feel !!

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Faemike55

6:44PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Great shot and very interesting information Thank you for this

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wysiwig

7:40PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Looks like one of Mike's evil Faes. I love the story. People who stand up to authority always have my respect. I wonder if the priest lived long enough to see the devil become the symbol for the town.

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schonee

9:07PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Wow excellent!

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psyoshida

10:14PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

I love it! Great story and wonderful matching picture.

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bazza

11:59PM | Tue, 20 July 2010

Fascinating Info Sandra and photo.. had to laugh at the antics of the two of them with the statue lol..

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Kaartijer

3:36AM | Wed, 21 July 2010

Great work on this one!

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DananJaya_Chef

4:22AM | Wed, 21 July 2010

Wonderful colors, Yes, this is wonderful art. Excellent work Sandra.

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mariogiannecchini

5:08AM | Wed, 21 July 2010

Personalmente parteggio per Etienne !In tanti casi i veri diavoli sono stati i sacerdoti ( di qualsiasi razza e religione ). Bast pensare agli orrori delle "guerre sante ".Ancora un soggetto interessante , forte della tua speigazione.