“In 2025, the Musée Sandelin in Saint-Omer is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of François Chifflart (1825-1901), an artist from Auvergne, with a major retrospective featuring 190 works. This exhibition is organized in partnership with the Maison Victor Hugo in Paris, and benefits from the exceptional participation of the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Both institutions are among the lenders, adding to the extensive collection of the artist’s works held by the museums of Saint-Omer.Born in Saint-Omer in 1825, François Chifflart began his apprenticeship at the municipal art school, before leaving to train at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he remained until his death in 1901. His independent spirit, rebellious against academism and the powers that be, prevailed over the promising career that lay ahead after he won the Grand Prix de Rome in 1851 and stayed at the Villa Medici. This admirer of Hugo’s expressed his talent in the graphic arts: as an outstanding aquafortist, his “improvisations sur cuivre” contributed to the revival of etching; as an inspired draftsman, he produced illustrations for Travailleurs de la merde la mer in 1869, followed by drawings for Notre-Dame de Paris and La Légende des siècles, which have since become Hugolian icons. For Le Monde illustré, he also captured in collective memory the Parisian fires of the Commune.” A FULL PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES TO DISCOVER AT THE SANDELIN MUSEUM: A full program of activities is on offer, including guided tours, workshops, off-site exhibitions, cross-views between artists, a micro-conference, and a guided treasure hunt…. not forgetting a special highlight on Museum Night, Saturday May 17! PRACTICAL INFO: Musée Sandelin – 14 rue Carnot, 62500 Saint-Omer Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-12pm & 2pm-6pm, Closed on public holidays. Information on 03 21 38 00 94 or by e-mail at musees-accueil@ville-saint-omer.fr TP €5.50 / TR €3.50 / Free for children under 18. THE MUSEUM IS FREE EVERY SUNDAY Visual credits: La conscience, Chifflart, François-Nicolas engraved by Joliet, black stone or oiled charcoal on paper, 1877-1878, Maison de Victor Hugo, Paris, INV 460, CCO Paris Musées / Maisons de Victor Hugo Paris-Guernesey.
