“An avenue lined with chestnut trees.” The artist, Alfred Sisley, stood captivated by the scene in front of him. He was in the woods at La Celle-Saint-Cloud, a village outside of Paris. The year was 1865. Sisley was about to embark on a painting that would become known as “Avenue of Chestnut Trees at La Celle-Saint-Cloud,” or sometimes called “Edge of the Fontainebleau Forest,” It would be one of his most famous works. However, the painting was initially rejected by the Paris Salon of 1867, a prestigious art exhibition of the time. It wasn’t until 1877 that Jean-Baptiste Faure, a famous baritone opera singer, recognized its beauty and purchased the artwork. The painting changed hands a couple more times before ending up in the Petit Palais museum in Paris, where it remains today.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.