The house of the painter Henri de Saint-Delis is a place steeped in history.
The artist was born in Marconne in the Pas-de-Calais in 1878 and lived there until his death in 1949. The painter's room, No. 3, located on the first floor and comfortably renovated, follows the curves of Rue du Puits. From its windows, you can see the carriage of the nearby Ferme Saint Siméon - Relais & Châteaux, and hear the pleasant sound of horseshoes striking the cobblestones, echoing the sounds of bygone times.
From the landing, which led to his dwelling, Henri de Saint-Delis painted Norman still lifes composed of flowers and fruits from the property. From the garden, he depicted the south-west façade and the welcoming wooded setting of the mansion.
The typical Norman-style half-timbered house to the right of the entrance porch boasts all the quintessential charms of the beautiful 17th century houses of the Pays d'Auge.
Henri de Saint-Delis liked to stay amid the peaceful greenery of the village of Sainte-Catherine, painting watercolours all year round and magnifying the serene atmosphere that reigned there. He was a gentleman. For more than thirty years, he criss-crossed the port city of Honfleur and its surroundings, capturing scenes of dynamic local life from a small folding seat in front of his easel.
He was a member of the Rodolphe Julian Academy of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture founded in Paris in 1868, which was to achieve international renown.
The paintings of Henri de Saint-Delis distinguish him as a joyful man. All his works, with delicate or more vivid touches, reflect the joviality of everyday life and local festivities, the changing skies, the dancing waves, and the radiant landscapes bathed in the soft colours of spring and summer, shimmering autumnal tones, or the bluish white hues of the wintertime.
Unforgettable memories, all linked to France's distinguished history of painting.