La Maison Picassiette
Raymond Isidore, the municipal cemetery sweeper from Chartres, France, died fifty years ago and left behind his creation, the Maison Picassiette.
One day in 1938, when he was out taking a walk, Isidore found some pieces of crockery that drew his attention. He took them home—and began a mosaic project that would continue for almost thirty years.
For the first seven years Isidore decorated the interior of his house, covering every surface in broken crockery and glass, including the walls, floors, ceilings, and all of the furniture. In 1945, he began work on the exterior, building a chapel, a throne, and an enclosure wall—all of which he also decorated. His designs include representations of Christian symbols and characters, animals, a view of Jerusalem, and illustrations of various cathedrals, including the famed cathedral of Chartres, located across the hill from his property.
In interviews, Isidore explained he saw in dreams the patterns, persons, and buildings he would later depict in mosaic.
Isidore gathered the materials he needed for his mosaics from garbage dumps. Townspeople began to call him “Picassiette,” likely a twist on pique-assiette (scavenger) and also a witty reference to Picasso and assiette(plate).
One day in 1938, when he was out taking a walk, Isidore found some pieces of crockery that drew his attention. He took them home—and began a mosaic project that would continue for almost thirty years.
For the first seven years Isidore decorated the interior of his house, covering every surface in broken crockery and glass, including the walls, floors, ceilings, and all of the furniture. In 1945, he began work on the exterior, building a chapel, a throne, and an enclosure wall—all of which he also decorated. His designs include representations of Christian symbols and characters, animals, a view of Jerusalem, and illustrations of various cathedrals, including the famed cathedral of Chartres, located across the hill from his property.
In interviews, Isidore explained he saw in dreams the patterns, persons, and buildings he would later depict in mosaic.
Isidore gathered the materials he needed for his mosaics from garbage dumps. Townspeople began to call him “Picassiette,” likely a twist on pique-assiette (scavenger) and also a witty reference to Picasso and assiette(plate).
