a French cultural icon

away from the busy streets guinguettes sprang up along the banks of the Seine and Marne rivers These rustic retreats offered not only food and wine, but also an atmosphere of camaraderie that turned strangers into friends and meals into celebrations

An essential part of this unique atmosphere is the gingham tablecloth With its checkered pattern, it adds a touch of whimsy and nostalgia to the dining experience The sight of these vibrant tablecloths dancing in the breeze is reminiscent of carefree summers by the river Gingham, also called Vichy check, has become synonymous with the guinguette, symbolising the convivial spirit that defines these gatherings The influence of the guinguette extends even further inspiring trends in fashion and design

The spirit of the guinguette with its iconic gingham aesthetic and rustic charm, can be found in everything from clothing to home design

However like many traditions the guinguette experienced a decline in the 20th century as social trends changed and modernisation took hold Yet the allure of outdoor dining and the charm of simpler times were irresistible La guinguette is enjoying a renaissance, charming a new generation with its nostalgic appeal and lively atmosphere

Guinguettes have played an important role in French art, literature and cinema Artists such as Auguste Renoir, Manet, Monet and Caillebotte were inspired by the atmosphere of the guinguette and captured its essence in their paintings Writers such as Maupassant and Zola, as well as filmmaker Jean Renoir, also expressed the charm of guinguettes in their works Paris may be the birthplace of the guinguette but its influence has spread throughout France and beyond Guinguettes have sprung up in various regions adding their own flair to this beloved tradition

Today, the guinguette, with its mix of nostalgia and conviviality, remains popular Its transformation from a simple riverside tavern to a cultural icon has left an lasting mark on French history and culture i have previously written for the DeuxSèvres Monthly on a number of topics relating to medieval France, viewed through the medium of fresques the medieval year calendars deal with the daily life of the peasant farmers the scenes of the theme of Death and Hell (La Mort et l Enfer) deal with the general supposed fate of those transgressing the laws and tenets of the Catholic Church of those times the scenes of the Last Judgement (Le Jugement Dernier) also show to some extent the rewards for the good or, perhaps, the chosen the scenes featuring the Sibyls were an attempt to use pagan prophesies to justify church doctrine in this latest series of articles, we will see how in the Musician angels (Les anges Musiciens), the notion of heavenly joy and the worship of Mar y as queen of heaven was presented to worshippers for a few centuries

Whilst on holiday in the Pyrenees in autumn 2019, my wife and I encountered some beautiful paintings on the vault of the Cathédrale notreDame-de-la-Sède in Saint-Lizier These paintings of The Sibyls (12 in this case) intrigued me, and I started searching for more information Being curious to know more about these pagan prophetesses I started to search on the Internet for more examples and information Although I found a couple of books on the subject, the information out there was quite limited, but it did lead me to another subject Les Anges Musiciens, which proved more widespread both in the literature and on the ground Whilst I was visiting churches in search of fresques and in particular those relating to my personal interests, I took many photos that I never used and barely looked at Looking back through my digital photo archive, I found that I had at least two examples of churches with fresques of musician angels – surprise! So, I have decided to continue with the angels and leave The Sibyls as they are

Some years ago, my wife and I visited Le Mans to see the old town and its Roman fortifications, staying in a delightful B&B close to the cathedral, which we left to a last hasty evening visit Later we found reference online to fresques of musician angels in a chapel behind the choir and the altar, as well as a ver y fine book covering the subject We have since revisited Le Mans and its cathedral and have now a set of photos of Les Anges Musiciens painted on the vault of the principal chapel

The theme of Les Anges Musiciens and also of The Singer Angels (Les Anges Chanteurs), is one of joy, of praise and of paradise whilst that of The Sibyls is