La bibliothèque montoise / Jan is de Man

Rue des Viaducs 206 - 7020 Nimy

Jan is de Man specialises in depicting monumental libraries, which he paints in trompe-l'œil on the façades of major cities. The location chosen for this fresco is symbolic, as it occupies a gable near the Place de Nimy on the axis of one of Mons' main entrances.

The Nimy Library, as it is known, is impressive as much for the style and scale of the fresco, which takes over the entire surface of the wall, as for the riches it reveals. Indeed, the interest here lies not so much in the technical prowess as in the iconography that the artist takes care to detail on each level of the fresco. Nothing is left to chance!

The library is the most intimate and precious space we can have at home; it contains hidden treasures, often forgotten, buried in our memories. It also preserves accumulated knowledge and stories read and passed down from father to son... On the other hand, public libraries, like museums, preserve a shared history within them.

This collective memory of Nimy is the primary subject of this fresco. This urban-scale trompe-l'oeil on the street side brings back to life a history that is as intimate as it is forgotten; it belongs to the families of this town at the foot of Mons. The history of Nimy is ungrateful in more ways than one, because it is often too closely associated with the history of Mons. This is because their histories often intersect and intertwine: that of the ramparts, the chapter of Sainte-Waudru, the passage of the Haine, industrialisation and the great battles. The village of Nimy is located on the road to Brussels, just a few hundred metres from one of the main entrances to the Cité du Doudou. The proximity of Nimy and Mons is such that property development is continuous between the two communes. This geographical location means that Nimy will become a major motorway route, cutting the village in two. Yet this small village has had its hours of glory. The village, which is now mainly residential, was a major centre of the region's industrial life, with ironworks, steelworks, earthenware factories and... clay-pipe factories, a real local speciality that has long borne the names of Nihoul and Scouflaire, heroes of Nimysian craftsmanship. It all began with the creation of an earthenware factory in Nimy around 1789, close to the river Haine and its mills. Our regions were then under the domination of the Austrian Netherlands. During this period, the Nimy earthenware factory was even awarded the prestigious title of ‘Imperial and Royal Factory’ by Joseph II. In 1810, the factory employed around 250 workers. It remained in operation until 1950, when the buildings were demolished 4 years later. Throughout its almost two centuries of operation, the factory employed workers, most of whom belonged to old earthenware-making families, because in Nimy, earthenware was handed down from father to son.

As well as household items, the faience factory made torches decorated with figures and groups in ‘Belgique et Champêtre’ biscuit, as can be seen in this trompe-l'oeil. And let's not forget the pipes with the heads of women, old men or sometimes even erotic subjects. A veritable local economy developed around this theme, marked by a particular artistic style in the decoration of the ‘pipe heads’ that animated the town of Nimy until the beginning of the last century; these objects, absolutely unique in their kind, have unfortunately been completely forgotten today. Finally, our eyes are 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 that belongs as much to the collective memory of the Nimysians as to that of the English. The first Victoria Cross awarded by the British government during the Great War was in recognition of the valour of Private Godley, who single-handedly defended the Nimy Bridge against the German enemy, who were outnumbered for almost two hours. This feat of arms enabled his battalion to retreat without loss. We should also take the time to look at each structure, each of which tells a piece of the story that links Nimy to Mons...

L'art habite la Ville