Exhibition

In 1958, Jean Cocteau agreed, at the request of the elected representatives of Milly-la-Forêt, to decorate the small chapel of Saint Blaise, located on the outskirts of the village. For this former leper chapel, Cocteau drew inspiration from the medicinal plants, known as Simples, grown in Milly: marshmallow, belladonna, valerian, buttercup, colchicum, henbane, gentian and mint. These large colourful stems, stretching from the floor to the roof along the walls, surround a scene depicting the Resurrection of Christ.

Paying homage to Milly's specialities, the artist repeated a monumental work, following on from those brilliantly executed in the south of France. The scene of the Resurrection of Christ is particularly striking, with its idea of souls ascending to heaven, while Cocteau suggests, through the epitaph engraved on the poet's tombstone, ‘I remain with you’, that this is not the case for his work. Stained glass windows with anthropomorphic geometric motifs, designed by Cocteau and created by a German master glassmaker, complete the ensemble.

The chapel will open its doors to the public in June, after a complete restoration of the paintings.

Curators: GIP Maison Jean Cocteau, Muriel Genthon and Céline Delamotte

Scenography: Frédéric Beauclair