Perhaps it’s time to uncover the story behind Avenue Georges Hecq. This avenue whispers tales of Parisian history. Avenue Georges Hecq is more than just a street. It’s a tribute to a man who significantly impacted the art world.
Georges Hecq was born in Bourges in 1852. Details about his life remained scarce for many years. Even locals in Bourges barely knew his name until recently.
Hecq’s story began to emerge thanks to Roland Narboux’s book. The book highlighted the sculptures of Bourges. It also mentioned a bust on Hecq’s grave in the Capucins cemetery. The sculptor of this bust was none other than Auguste Rodin.
Béatrice de Chancel also shed light on Hecq’s life through an exhibition. The exhibition displayed Rodin’s works donated by Hecq. Hecq worked at the Ministry of Public Instruction and Worship. He worked alongside figures like Ferdinand Buisson. At that time, there was no Ministry of Culture. Instead, there was an administration for Fine Arts.
From 1878 to 1895, Hecq managed matters related to the Fine Arts. He later became the head of the secretariat of Fine Arts. From 1893, he was a member of the Superior Council of Fine Arts. Hecq significantly boosted Rodin’s career. He secured the Legion of Honor for the great sculptor.
From 1888, Hecq promoted sending state-owned art to museums in Bourges. He favored his hometown by providing paintings exhibited at the salon. He also supplied marble and tin pieces signed by Jean Baffier. Hecq seemed to be a friend to artists and sculptors. He was a true collector.
His collection included works by Rodin. These included the four pieces now at the Berry Museum. He also collected works by Jean Baffier. These included tin pieces, porcelains from Sèvres, and glassware.
In painting, Hecq owned works by Jean-Paul Laurens. He also owned about ten works by Jean-Joseph Weert. One was a sketch for “The Death of Bara”.
In 1895, Hecq left his position at the Ministry of Public Instruction. He requested to leave due to health issues. He then joined the tax services in the Seine department. After Hecq’s death in 1903, his family donated several pieces to museums in Bourges.
His brother Albert and sister-in-law Lucie Hecq inherited his works. In 1946, Lucie Hecq made the first donation to the Berry Museum. This donation included about twenty works from Hecq’s collection. These were bronzes by Rodin and Jean Baffier, and paintings. After 1960, 130 more works were donated to the Berry Museum. These included display case items, porcelains from Sèvres, and sculptures by E. Frémiet and H. Vernhes. The marble bust signed by Rodin was also among them.
Rodin offered to create Hecq’s tomb bust to thank the family. The stone bust was completed in 1905. It was initially kept by Hecq’s father, Albert. In 1935, the Rodin Museum sought to acquire the stone bust. Lucie Hecq agreed. In return, she received two bronze copies of the work.
Three busts of Hecq exist. The first is in stone. The other two are in bronze. Lucie Hecq donated one bronze bust to the Bourges Museum in 1946. The other remains on the tomb in the Capucins cemetery. Hecq had tastes aligned with the 1880s. He aided Claude Monet but didn’t own Impressionist paintings. His taste in sculpture was broader.
Twenty letters exchanged between Rodin and Hecq are known. Today, people seek more information about Hecq’s life. There is a question whether Rodin ever visited Bourges with the painter J P Laurens. This might have been at Hecq’s request in June 1886.
Avenue Georges Hecq, therefore, is a reminder. It honors a man who championed art and artists. He left a lasting legacy through his support and collections.