Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The funeral chapel of the Berny family, located in Guiscard, Hauts-de-France, was built in 1932 by the Amienese architect Pierre Ansart. Sponsored by Gérard de Berny, she is one of the most successful examples of the funerary art of the inter-war period. Its architecture combines brick and concrete, embellished with interlaces, inscriptions, and geometric patterns in checker or fish edge, reflecting a sober and elaborate aesthetic.

The interior decoration, designed by Gérard Ansart (son of Pierre Ansart), includes mosaics and stained glass inspired by a macabre dance. These works were made by the Parisian Mosaïst and master glassmaker Jean Gaudin, who translated the cards of Ansart into lasting artistic elements. The chapel, protected by a decree of enrollment in 2000, thus bears witness to a collaboration between architects, decorators and exceptional craftsmen.

Ranked as a Historical Monument, this chapel illustrates the evolution of funeral practices in the 20th century, where art and architecture serve family memory. Its style, marked by Art Deco influences and geometric rigor, makes it a unique building in the heritage landscape of Picardie, now integrated into the Hauts-de-France.

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