Zarbula Sundials 1869: Le Villard, Vallouise, France - Sundials on Waymarking.com

The St Sébastien chapel in the hamlet of Le Villard, Vallouise, is quite decorated in the same style as the Penitents Chapel in Vallouise and many other village chapels in the area. On this chapel, Zarbula painted not only the two sundials but a Black Madonna and the image of St Sébastien, showing, as usual, his martyrdom, crucified and killed with arrows. The sundials are clearly Zarbula’s. Atelier Tournesol restored the chapel and all the paintings in 1997. SAF 0517505

On the south facing front of the chapel is a Zarbula sundial, typical of the times, the standard folk art design with the usual features: colours, frame, flower pots, chicken, sun, moon, curtains Masonic symbol and equatorial line. It is dated 1869 but not signed. The motto is “Ne compte pas sur la premier car tout depends de la derniere” (Do not count on the first as all depends on the last).

The east-facing sundial shows a different style and colours. The shape is curved both top and bottom. The dominant colour is pale blue behind the hour numbers. The gnomon is almost parallel to the east-facing dial. The Zarbula features are the bird, garland of flowers, sun and date, 1869. The Latin motto is “Sine Nube Placet” (I am pleased with no clouds).

The Black Madonna painted to counterbalance the sundial is interesting. At first it looks like a typical Madonna and child image in a niche. Perhaps the face is darker than normal. The words below are from the biblical Song of Solomon 1:5. “Nigra sum formosa filia Jerusalem” (I am black but beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem). The Song of Solomon continues with “Do not stare at me because I am black, because the sun has shone upon me“. The cult of the Black Madonna has a long history in France and Italy and there are several other Black Madonna images and sculptures. Zarbula painted on just like this by in Sestriere, Champlas du Col, Italy. A musical sample from the Song of Soloman is here (visit link)

Sundial Type: Vertical - Wall mounted dial plate Related Web Site: Not listed

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