Flourens. works of art at the town hall: the imprint of Camille Ournac, mayor of Toulouse
Visitors regularly ask the question: why are two works of art associated with Camille Ournac present in the town hall?
A marble bust representing Camille Ournac and a painting stand in the hall of the municipal council of Flourens, Born August 31, 1845 in Toulouse, Camille Ournac was general councilor, then president of the General council. Mayor of Toulouse from 1888 to 1892, he was the initiator of the Salle des Illustres. He was a senator from 1897 to 1920. Elected on the radical list, he belonged to the Senate to the group of the democratic left. Retired in Toulouse, he died there on February 24, 1925.
Knight of the Legion of Honor, Camille Ournac, from the Beaux-Arts in Toulouse, also distinguished himself as a talented cartoonist signing his “Ka-Mill” drawings.
The painting exhibited at the town hall represents the Capitouls during the oath of Louis XI to respect the charter of the city of Toulouse. This painting is linked to an order for the decoration of the Salle des Illustres du Capitole, renovated in 1892. Camille Ournac wants a gallery that will ensure the triumph of Toulouse artists, by celebrating the achievements that have punctuated the history of the city.
The production of this painting was delegated to Roucol, a local painter. The scene takes place in front of the Porte de Muret. We can see the Pyrenees on the background of the work. The capitouls represented have the features of the city councilors of the time, including Camille Ournac. But Roucol’s sketch is not retained. According to the information communicated by Luce Barlangue, professor of art history at Jean-Jaurès University, we can assume that the artist supported by Camille Ournac, because of their political affinities, donated to him his work.
To answer the question “Why are two works of art associated with Camille Ournac present in the town hall?”, Both the painting and the bust are donations from Marie-Jeanne Tarbouriech, owner in Flourens of the residence of Ciserol, acquired by the family in 1896 However, this donor was the daughter of Camille Ournac.
The Florus association has also explored this subject: www.florus-florens.org/