Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The home of the painter Felix Del Marle, located at 119 Grand-Rue in Pont-sur-Sambre, dates from the mid-19th century. Originally, it served as the employer's house for the Del Marle brewery-maltery, built around 1888. The brewing activity ceased around 1950, marking the end of its industrial use. This brick and stone building, covered with a slate, is distinguished by its living room decorated with neoplastic geometrical compositions, made by Del Marle himself.

Félix Del Marle (1889–1952), born in this house, designed there around 1926 a bold wall decor that he remanified in 1945. This 28 m2 living room, illuminated by two bays, was rediscovered in 2001 during work to transform it into a gite. The original paintings, woodwork and elements (geometric furniture, luminaires, iron doors) were restored under the direction of Magdalena Varanguien de Villepin. The house has been listed as part of the Historical Monuments since 2003, protecting only the living room.

The outbuildings (old stables, stables and brewery) do not benefit from this protection, although they are being renovated. The parcel, narrow and elongated, extends to the Sambre at the rear. The building thus illustrates both the local industrial history (brasserie) and the avant-garde artistic heritage of Del Marle, a major figure of neo-plasticism in France.

The house today belongs to the town of Pont-sur-Sambre. Its unique décor reflects the influence of the De Stijl movement in France and the artistic innovation of the 1920s–40s. The accuracy of its location is estimated to be fair (note 5/10), based on available data.

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