Jean-Baptiste BLANC

Jean-Baptiste BLANC

"Le poète paysan"
A work by Mouriés artist Morgan MIROCOLO

‘Jan Batisto Blanc - Lou Felibre di Baragno' is a captivating artistic representation of the peasant félibre
félibre Jean-Baptiste Blanc, known by the pseudonym Jan di Baragno. It is a celebration of his life, his work and his deep connection with the land of the Alpilles.
At the centre of the work is a striking portrait of Jan di Baragno, which immediately catches the viewer's eye.
immediately catches the viewer's eye. His face is captured with great fidelity, highlighting his characteristic features and expression
expression, perhaps reflecting his talent for storytelling.

The background of the work is circular and luminous yellow, evoking the bright sun that bathes the emblematic
emblematic landscapes of Provence, from rocky outcrops to verdant meadows and the typical hedged farmland of the Vallée des Baux. This vibrant colour symbolises the warmth and vitality of the region, reflecting the natural environment that was the setting for Jan di Baragno's stories.

Jan di Baragno's portrait is presented in two distinct parts. The first part is a realistic
of his face, while the second part is more subjective, incorporating extracts from his own
extracts from his own writings in Provençal. These verses, taken from his book ‘Li passo tèms d'un bon pèr rèn’, add a poetic dimension to the work, offering a glimpse into the linguistic and cultural richness of Provence.

The verses used in the work are an apprenticeship in counting in Provençal, traditionally handed down by the region's forefathers. They recount the quarrels between Monsieur Brun and Monsieur Ginous, adding an amusing and sympathetic touch to the work. The form used to set these verses evokes hedgerows and pastures, recalling the typical landscapes of the region where Jan di Baragno lived as ‘Pelot’, the owner of the Monblan farm. This subtle integration reinforces the link between the poet and his rural environment, while adding a playful, narrative dimension to the work.

The sentence below the portrait is a symbolic representation of the Entreconques bars.
Although it is located to the north of the Monblan estate, it evokes the familiar land where the poet Jan di Baragno lived and worked for many years. This representation adds a personal touch to the work, reinforcing the link between the artist, his subject and the environment that surrounds them.

In conclusion, ‘jan Batisto Blanc Lou Félibre di Baragno’ is a profound exploration of 1
embodied by this emblematic peasant poet. Through this captivating work, we
authentic world where his stories, his deep connection to the land of the Alpilles and his commitment to Provençal
his commitment to Provençal culture are celebrated with passion and respect. It's a vibrant tribute to the richness and diversity of this ancestral land.
It is a celebration of the life, work and deep connection of JB Blanc to the land of the Alpilles. In the centre is his portrait in 2 parts: a realistic representation of his face and a more subjective part, incorporating extracts of his verses in Provençal. These verses are an apprenticeship in counting in Provençal, traditionally passed on by the grandfathers to the pitchouns. The background is circular and luminous yellow, evoking the bright sun that bathes the emblematic landscapes of Provence. The phrase below the portrait is a symbolic representation of the Entreconques bars, evoking the familiar land where the peasant poet lived and worked for many years.

Morgan MIROCOLO

Jean-Baptiste BLANC, dit Lou Felibre di Baragno. (St Rémy de Provence 1877 – Maussane 1953).

A Provençal poet and farmer born in St Rémy de Provence, he moved to Maussane les Alpilles where he ran the mas de Monblan for a long time.

A fine storyteller, he published his writings in magazines, notably La Pignato, and then in a volume with the deceptively debonair title ‘Li passo-tèms d’un bon pèr rèn’ (the entertainments of a good-for-nothing). This collection, published in 1932 and again in 1947, is written in Provençal. Jean-Baptiste BLANC took the pseudonym Jan di Baragno (Jean des haies vives) at a time when the landscape of the Alpilles was more fragmented.

He founded L’Escandihado baussenco in 1928 with Poullinet, Cornille, Blanchet ‘Le Sauvage’ and Charles-Henri Rieux ‘Charloun’.

He was one of the main architects of the monument in honour of Charloun Rieu in Les Baux de Provence.