The missing painting

The painter entrusted with this task was Louis-Édouard Fournier (1857-1917), an artist who had already taken part in several major projects such as the mosaic frescoes at the Grand Palais. By 1904, Fournier had already had a successful career, and the École des Langues Orientales thought it would be a good idea to entrust the panel to him. Unfortunately, all did not go according to plan.

When the painting was finally completed, administrator Paul Boyer decided to refuse it. He explains his reticence in a letter to the Ministry of Public Instruction and Fine Arts dated March 20, 1914. Firstly, the installation of the panel "amounted to such a considerable sum" that he refused to impose such an expense on the institution. He also explained that the panel's colors would clash with the salon's existing decor. Last but not least, the painting is "cluttered, in its lower part, with inscriptions in oriental letters of different alphabets which present only assemblages of letters taken at random and not constituting words, -an unfortunate circumstance which would not fail to make those [...] who would cast their eyes on the said panel smile."

Following this refusal, Paul Boyer initially proposed sending the painting to museums in the colonies. It was eventually exhibited briefly at the Sorbonne, before leaving for the Vosges prefecture, Épinal, in 1922. It was then lost. It may have been destroyed during the fighting to liberate the town in 1944.

However, research continues, and if you have any information about this painting, please do not hesitate to contact the Inalco archives department.

Article from the series of historical narratives Flâneries dans l'histoire de l'Inalco, which each month highlights a singular episode in the history of the institute.