Comments on: A Fireplace in Fournier St

By: Sylvia Wright

Sylvia Wright — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 18:28:49 +0000

Dear Gentle Author,

Thank you for this. Is this Peter Le Keux, 1716-1768?
His father was Pierre, 1683-1743 & his mother was Sarah Bloodworth, 1684-1768

I would also like to know what is the number of the house in Fournier Street! This Peter is my 1st cousin, 7 times removed.

My 6th great grandmother, Susannah Le Keux, 1690-1760 was the daughter of John (Jean) Le Keux,1647-1723 and Susanna Didier, 1654-1719. She married Peter Debonnaire, 1691-1733

Also,is it possible to put me in touch with Sally Medcalf?

Many thanks, Sylvia

By: Sally Medcalf

Sally Medcalf — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 13:02:58 +0000

Dear Gentle Author, I would love to know what is the number of house in Fournier Street where Peter Le Keux lived, and what dates he was living there ? I am descended from his uncle, Colonel Peter. Thank you, best wishes, Sally

By: Lesley Brett

Lesley Brett — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 08:52:52 +0000

What an interesting site, I have very much enjoyed reading about these wonderful tiles. I too am a direct descendant of an 1840’s resident of Church/Fournier St., but am having a difficulty in discerning exactly at which number he lived. 1841 census shows Church St. but the only numbered house is 13 (not his!) Have tried counting households along from no.13 but page is not clear enough to be certain. Any ideas anyone? Family was of George Christmas, silk weaver. I so want to visit Fournier St, and see these incredibly lovely houses, but it would be a form of torture to be confronted by them and not know which one it was!
Kind regards,
Lesley

By: Leonie

Leonie — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:56:37 +0000

I’d like to add that upon reflection, I wonder if the St. Jerome in the wilderness tile might not be a depiction of Daniel in the Lion’s Den? If we agree that the head scene portrays John the baptist, then it would be noted that all the central characters are from the scriptures and with the exception of Noah, were all Hebrews and descendants of Noah through the line of Shem. St. Jerome to my knowledge is not mentioned in the protestant version of the Bible, and although Peter Le Keux was protestant, I am sure he would have been more familiar with St. Jerome than I am but given the collective theme of the tiles shown so far, I feel inclined to think that it was intended to illustrate Daniel in the Lion’s Den.

By: Leonie

Leonie — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:43:13 +0000

Very grateful to the Gentle Author for sharing these treasures. I find all this very interesting on several levels as Peter’s great grandsons John & Henry, as well John’s son John Henry and another descendant, John’s granddaughter, Juliet Bergman were all famous artists in their day in the 1800s. It makes me wonder if Peter might not have collaborated artistically to this collection. Peter’s brother Phillipe was a pastor among the Walloons and Huguenots of Canterbury and in Dover; Some sources list Peter himself as having pastored at Canterbury also. Their group were very devoted and God-fearing, thus I am apt to believe that his intentions here were sound and noble. I also tend to concur with Fay Catini’s interpretations on some of the depictions, and I thank you all for your contributions. Besides all that, it is just wonderful to view these biblical histories through the eyes and minds of those who lived 300-400 years ago and I am thankful they’ve survived.

A descendant of Peter and Mary Le Keux

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:59:01 +0000

I tend to agree with Fay Cattini regarding Jesus / Joseph. In the orig Hebrew, Joseph’s coat is called a ‘striped coat’, or ‘a coat of lines’ (‘Ketonet passim’), which this illustration seems to show. The King James’ version immortalized it as ‘a coat of many colours’, but it is quite possible that a translation into another language is closer to the original. Not sure what the Latin or LXX say…

By: Joan

Joan — Mon, 30 May 2011 14:53:34 +0000

Just back from the excellent ‘Dirt’ exhibition at the Wellcome Collection. Some beautiful Delft tiles in the section dealing with the cleanliness of Dutch housewives. Well worth a visit.

Joan

By: Fay Cattini

Fay Cattini — Fri, 27 May 2011 19:24:20 +0000

I wish I could see the tiles more closely! But I don’t think it’s the woman caught in adultery. I think it’s Potiphar’s wife trying to seduce Joseph. I don’t think it’s the soldiers bringing Jesus a purple robe. I think it’s Joseph’s brothers bringing his coat of many colours to their father after they had sold him into slavery. Not sure about Judith! I think it might be Salome with the head of John the Baptist.

By: Ana

Ana — Fri, 27 May 2011 11:47:28 +0000

Great job photographing and equally great written article to accompany the images.
It seems a shame that the tiles are in the fireplace. Either way, pretty and yet another new thing I’ve seen through this blog.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 27 May 2011 08:15:21 +0000

LOL – if the Bible was a tabloid newspaper…so interesting to see these tiles, capturing the most dramatic moments of human jeopardy, salacious enough to be tucked inside the firebox, out of sight and besooted