On April 15, 2019, it is one of the favorite monuments of the French that ignites. The roof of Notre Dame de Paris cathedral goes up in smoke, carrying its historic spire and rooster, installed in 1856 by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. These images of fire, Lino Carniato, retired metalworker discovers them at his place in his village of Saint-Félix-de-Villadeix. Like many French people, he is moved. An influx of private and public donations followed, but the 76-year-old Périgord went further, he decided to put his know-how into a project of identical reproduction of the rooster.
These images of fire turn in the head of Lino Carniato, who also remembers another incident which had devastated part of the town hall of La Rochelle, at the time I was close to Michel Crépeau (former Mayor of La Rochelle) and I liked working on the restoration of this building“.
But to bring the Rooster of Notre Dame de Paris back to life, you have to find a snapshot of the original, enlarge it, then make a drawing. Several plaster and concrete casts will follow which will serve as a support for the copper. In total 1 year of work and a rooster weighing 28 kilos for 1 meter high, symbol of the know-how and the passion of Lino Carniato.
The craftsman now wishes to donate it to the rector of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral. To this day, Lino Carniato is still awaiting a response from the Chief Architect of Historic Monuments, he still received congratulations from the Archpriest of the Cathedral.
While waiting perhaps one day to take pride of place at the top of Paris, the Rooster is wisely awaiting his hour of glory in his Périgord studio. To be continued.