Stairs to the Choir

by Bert Hermans · Gouda, NL

Bert Hermans made this painting after a visit to Clémont (Cher, France) in September 2022. During this visit he took a trip to Bourges with friends. On the way, near Presly, he came across a dilapidated building complex visited earlier in 2021, of which the stairs to the choir of the chapel can be seen in the painting. It is located on the other side of the road opposite the former Catholic boarding school Angélus (shown in the painting 'Leash'). Founded in 1920, the school was both a boys' school and an orphanage and was run by the Oblates of the Sacred Heart. Later in 2009 the building became a religious institution consisting of a private school, college and secondary school. In 2017, the school was closed by order of Justice because of, among other things, abuse by the priest-director and some employees of pupils and because of fraud. This painting shows the staircase leading to the choir of the former chapel of the boarding school. Just like in the chapel, the beautiful 'glass-in-concrete' windows can also be seen in this painting. Furthermore, Bert has depicted the rough concrete construction with a substrate of acrylic and modeling paste. Floor tiles and light give warmth and depth to this painting.