Victor Hugo's family pictures go on display

Thursday 14 June 2018

What's been described as an "extraordinary" set of photographs of Victor Hugo, his family and his home in Guernsey, are going on display in the island in a new exhibition which opens today.

They can be seen in the gardens of the Priaulx Library throughout this summer from Thursday 14 June until early September.

It is making up part of the library’s annual garden exhibition, which is being sponsored for a sixth time by Ravenscroft. It will feature more than 30 images of the author, his wife, children and grandchildren, his home in Hauteville and the house where his mistress Juliette Drouet lived.

Pictured: Hauteville House, image taken from museums.gov.gg

The Priaulx Library has collaborated with Maisons de Victor Hugo Paris/Guernesey to put on the exhibition, which is called Hauteville House and the Hugo family.

There will be more images on display inside the library as well as outside, along with documents and books to peruse, including a letter from his daughter Adele to her mother, which was recently donated to the library. A number of books illustrated by his great-grandson Jean Hugo, who attended Elizabeth College, and books from Victor Hugo’s library in Hauteville House also make up part of the exhibition. 

"With Hauteville House being closed for major renovation, we wanted to ensure that we continued to celebrate Victor Hugo, the author of Les Misérables, who is undoubtedly Guernsey’s most famous resident," said Dinah Bott, the Victor Hugo specialist at the Priaulx Library and president of the Victor Hugo in Guernsey Society.

"Hugo spent years creating the interior of Hauteville House and it provided a safe haven for his family in exile. His wife said “my husband is carving his soul into these walls” and it became an extraordinary work of art. We are thrilled that with Ravenscroft’s support, and in collaboration with Maisons de Victor Hugo Paris/Guernesey, that we are able to share a glimpse of what life at Hauteville House was like."

Pictured above and top: Some of the photographs going on display at the Priaulx Library

Mrs Bott said each year the exhibition in the gardens of the Priaulx Library attracts thousands of people and this year's is also expected to be popular. 

"An outdoor exhibition is something different and last year we had people from all over the world including Belgium, Germany, New Zealand and Australia. It encourages people to come into the library and learn more about the island’s history. For the first time, this year we have also provided explanatory captions in French as well as in English," she said.

Toby Peatfield, director of stockbroking at Ravenscroft, said the exhibition had now become a popular event in the calendar which they are proud to support.

"The exhibition continues to grow in popularity and is enjoyed by those who make a point of visiting and those who come across it by chance. Victor Hugo was a remarkable character and Guernsey is justifiable proud of the fact that he spent so many years living here. Ravenscroft is delighted that we can sponsor this exhibition which celebrates his life."