Mons Library / Jan is de man
Location: Façade of café “Aux armes de Nimy”, Rue des Viaducs 206, 7020 Nimy
Jan is de Man specialises in the depiction of monumental libraries which he paints using trompe l’oeil on the facades of large cities. The location chosen for this fresco is symbolic, as it occupies a gable near Place de Nimy along one of the main entrances to Mons. Bibliothèque de Nimy, as it is called, impresses as much for the style and size of the fresco, which takes up the entire surface of the wall, as for the treasures it brings to light. Its strength lies perhaps not so much in its technical feats as in the iconography that the artist painstakingly details at each level of the fresco. Nothing happens by chance! A library is the most intimate and precious space we can have at home; it contains hidden treasures, often forgotten and buried in our memories. It also preserves accumulated knowledge and stories read and passed on from father to son... On the other hand, public libraries preserve a common history within them, like museums. This collective memory of Nimy is the main subject of this fresco. This urban-scale trompe-l’oeil, which faces onto the road, provides an updated vision of a story that is as personal as it is forgotten; it belongs to the families of this small town at the foot of Mons. Nimy’s history is unglamorous in more ways than one, as it is too often equated with Mons’. And for good reason, as their histories often intersect and intertwine, be it the ramparts, the chapter of Saint Waltrude, Haine passage, industrialisation or even the great battles. The village of Nimy is located on the Brussels road, a few hundred metres from one of the main entrances to Cité du Doudou. Nimy and Mons are so close to each other that the building stock forms a continuum between the two municipalities. This geographical situation eventually resulted in Nimy becoming a very important motorway axis, cutting the village in two. Nevertheless, this small village has had its hour in the sun. Now mainly residential, this village was once a major centre of regional industrial life, featuring ironworks, steelworks, earthenware factories and clay pipe factories. This genuine local speciality made a name for Nihoul and Scouflaire, champions of the Nimysian craft industry. It all began with the creation of an earthenware factory which was set up in Nimy around 1789, near the Haine river and its mills. Our regions were then under the sway of the Austrian Netherlands. During this period, the Nimy earthenware factory even obtained the prestigious title of “Imperial and Royal Factory” from Joseph II. In 1810, the factory employed around 250 workers, and remained active until 1950, when the buildings were demolished four years later. For the entire two centuries for which it has operational, the establishment employed workers, most of whom belonged to old earthenware families given that Nimy worked on a father-to-son basis. In addition to household articles, the factory made torches decorated with figures, and “Belgium and Rural” biscuit clusters, such as can be seen in this trompe-l’oeil. In this connection, let’s not forget the pipes with heads of women, old men or sometimes even erotic subjects. A real local economy developed around this theme, marked by a series of artistically unique “pipe head” decorations which livened up the City of Nimy until early last century; these pipes, which were one of a kind, are sadly completely forgotten today. Finally our gaze is drawn to a commemorative plaque, celebrating the courage of Lieutenant Dease and Private Godley. It is located near the Nimy Bridge. This is an important historical fact which is in the collective memory of the residents of Nimy as must as that of the British. Indeed, the first Victoria Cross awarded by the British government during the Great War was for the bravery of Private Godley, who single-handedly defended the Nimy Bridge against the outnumbered German enemy for almost two hours. This feat of arms enabled his battalion to retreat without any losses. Let’s also take the time to look at each work, each one telling a fragment of history connecting Nimy to Mons...
Jan is de Man specialises in the depiction of monumental libraries which he paints using trompe l’oeil on the facades of large cities. The location chosen for this fresco is symbolic, as it occupies a gable near Place de Nimy along one of the main entrances to Mons. Bibliothèque de Nimy, as it is called, impresses as much for the style and size of the fresco, which takes up the entire surface of the wall, as for the treasures it brings to light. Its strength lies perhaps not so much in its technical feats as in the iconography that the artist painstakingly details at each level of the fresco. Nothing happens by chance! A library is the most intimate and precious space we can have at home; it contains hidden treasures, often forgotten and buried in our memories. It also preserves accumulated knowledge and stories read and passed on from father to son... On the other hand, public libraries preserve a common history within them, like museums. This collective memory of Nimy is the main subject of this fresco. This urban-scale trompe-l’oeil, which faces onto the road, provides an updated vision of a story that is as personal as it is forgotten; it belongs to the families of this small town at the foot of Mons. Nimy’s history is unglamorous in more ways than one, as it is too often equated with Mons’. And for good reason, as their histories often intersect and intertwine, be it the ramparts, the chapter of Saint Waltrude, Haine passage, industrialisation or even the great battles. The village of Nimy is located on the Brussels road, a few hundred metres from one of the main entrances to Cité du Doudou. Nimy and Mons are so close to each other that the building stock forms a continuum between the two municipalities. This geographical situation eventually resulted in Nimy becoming a very important motorway axis, cutting the village in two. Nevertheless, this small village has had its hour in the sun. Now mainly residential, this village was once a major centre of regional industrial life, featuring ironworks, steelworks, earthenware factories and clay pipe factories. This genuine local speciality made a name for Nihoul and Scouflaire, champions of the Nimysian craft industry. It all began with the creation of an earthenware factory which was set up in Nimy around 1789, near the Haine river and its mills. Our regions were then under the sway of the Austrian Netherlands. During this period, the Nimy earthenware factory even obtained the prestigious title of “Imperial and Royal Factory” from Joseph II. In 1810, the factory employed around 250 workers, and remained active until 1950, when the buildings were demolished four years later. For the entire two centuries for which it has operational, the establishment employed workers, most of whom belonged to old earthenware families given that Nimy worked on a father-to-son basis. In addition to household articles, the factory made torches decorated with figures, and “Belgium and Rural” biscuit clusters, such as can be seen in this trompe-l’oeil. In this connection, let’s not forget the pipes with heads of women, old men or sometimes even erotic subjects. A real local economy developed around this theme, marked by a series of artistically unique “pipe head” decorations which livened up the City of Nimy until early last century; these pipes, which were one of a kind, are sadly completely forgotten today. Finally our gaze is drawn to a commemorative plaque, celebrating the courage of Lieutenant Dease and Private Godley. It is located near the Nimy Bridge. This is an important historical fact which is in the collective memory of the residents of Nimy as must as that of the British. Indeed, the first Victoria Cross awarded by the British government during the Great War was for the bravery of Private Godley, who single-handedly defended the Nimy Bridge against the outnumbered German enemy for almost two hours. This feat of arms enabled his battalion to retreat without any losses. Let’s also take the time to look at each work, each one telling a fragment of history connecting Nimy to Mons...
