Curators
The government agency APSARA, created in 1995, responsible for managing the site.
Without the passionate work of the Angkor Conservation Office, under the authority of the French School of Far
East (founded 1901), no one could imagine the splendor of these monuments
because in a few years, nature had completed his relentless work of digestion
last monuments. Climate and vegetation had ruined the buildings that collapsed
as bellows having broken under pressure from the roots of giant trees.
The first task, not least, the services of preservation was to rid the buildings
their invasive vegetation
The Angkor Conservation was created in 1907, when Angkor was Thai, is
Income permanently in Cambodia.
It was initially led by architects. The first, Jean Commaille
assassination in 1916. (commemorative plaque at the northwest corner of the Bayon at ten yards from the road)
Henri Marchal, who died in 1970 at the age of 95, finished the tree clearing in 1922 and consolidated the monuments with the few resources he had. From 1931 he ascended the Banteay Srei, a jewel of Khmer art, using techniques of anastylosis: total dismantling of the work to rebuild the foundations of recovery, and reconstruction by laying blocks previously numbered. Construction techniques Khmer (laying of stones running without mortar (see relief of Bayon)) lend themselves perfectly to anastylosis: each stone could occupy a single location. Blocks were missing discreetly replaced.
Henri Marchal, who died in 1970 at the age of 95, finished the tree clearing in 1922 and consolidated the monuments with the few resources he had. From 1931 he ascended the Banteay Srei, a jewel of Khmer art, using techniques of anastylosis: total dismantling of the work to rebuild the foundations of recovery, and reconstruction by laying blocks previously numbered. Construction techniques Khmer (laying of stones running without mortar (see relief of Bayon)) lend themselves perfectly to anastylosis: each stone could occupy a single location. Blocks were missing discreetly replaced.
Found George, who died tragically in 1935, then proceeded Jacques Lagisquet Conservation from 1932 to 1936.
Until 1944 Maurice Glaize opened new sites. In 1941 he managed the delicate negotiations that avoided Angkor again become Thailand and allowed the continuation of work during the Second World War.
Maurice Glaize wrote the first guide architectural temples.
Henri Marchal resumed service in the years 1952, a period of insecurity, and then had a key role in the defense of Angkor. He should be combined, for that too failed, who was a connoisseur of the finest in the country, Mr. Madrolle, author of the fantastic guide "The South Indochina.
Bernard-Philippe Groslier, the first non-architect, was appointed curator in 1959 what was the largest archaeological site in the world (900 workers!), Left Cambodia in 1972 while the last two years he tried to ship finest pieces of Conservation in Phnom Penh. Still in original packaging in 1996, these pieces will be exhibited in Paris, after restoration in 1997. He had two architects to assist in his work: Guy and Jacques Nafylan Dumarçay. support the construction of Baphuon was this time.
Henri Marchal
1876-1970
He studied archeology at the Beaux-Arts in Paris by vocation and landed in 1905 in Cambodia, land of his dreams.
Two months after his funeral in 1970, the Khmer Rouge will return to Angkor!
First Deputy Jean Commaille first curator of Angkor, he began with his release of most temples, starting with Angkor Wat buried under earth and vegetation ...
He will succeed Commaille, murdered by bandits while carrying the pay of workers. It will Curator from 1916 to 1953, with interludes of several years during which he devoted himself to his duties as director of the archaeological service of the French School of Far East.
He brought in Cambodia restoration methods used in Java, including anastylosis.
Using modern materials, and he manages to reconstruct and reinforce, a visible and acknowledged, a number of temples still standing today.
It was a brave and simple man, surnamed "the Wise" by his friends EFEO and "good genius" by the Khmer.
NB: Sappho, daughter of Henri Marchal, published in 1997, L'Harmattan, Paris, costumes and ornaments khhmers from the Devata of Angkor Wat
Georges GROSLIER
1887 - 1945
Born in Cambodia, February 4, 1887, son of a director of the Civil Service of Indochina, he studied in France and studied painting at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Disappointed by a second Prix de Rome, he preferred to join his family and discovered Angkor. Returning to France, he multiplied the conferences and books to discover the Khmer art. That earned him a mission of the Ministry of Education and the Asian society in Cambodia in 1913 and 1914. Called when he was called in 1917 by the Governor-General Albert Sarraut, who wanted to awaken within the Indochinese peoples artistic traditions of the past.
He was the creator, organizer and the first curator of the Museum Albert Sarraut, Phnom Penh (now National Museum), a model of traditional Khmer architecture, opened in 1942. He made the sanctuary of Cambodian art.
Previously he had attended the revival of local crafts. La Manufacture du Palais Royal, established in 1907 by King Sisowath goldsmiths to consolidate its service in April 1912 had opened a section vocational school of decorative arts, including workshops in drawing, wood carving and ivory, copper work, jewelry, silverware, weaving and embroidery. This school vegetated. In December 1917, George Groslier transformed the School of Arts in Cambodia, where in the last two years old masters formed a hundred students, blending tradition and modern taste. The graduate students created a cooperative that sells produce and soon became famous.
Geoges Groslier, recognized as the reviver of Cambodian arts, organized the flags of Cambodia at the Exposition of Decorative Arts (1925) and Colonial Exhibition (1931) in Paris. He participated in the establishment of Schools of Art Bien Hoa and Hanoi and the Ecole Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Hanoi. Lyautey called even Morocco. Director Arts Cambodian then Inspector General of Arts in Indochina, he published many books on archeology, art and aesthetics of the Khmer.
From 1926 he added to his work a literary work, novels and stories whose purpose was to show the reactions of Europeans facing Asia and its mysteries.
Retired in 1942, unable to leave Cambodia, he participated in the anti-Japanese (as a radio operator) and imprisoned, died under torture on 58, June 18, 1945.
Bernard Philippe GROSLIER
1926 -1986
Son of George Groslier, Bernard Philippe GROSLIER devoted most of his life at Angkor, as an archaeologist, conservator and researcher.
First non-architect to be appointed (in 1959), he was the curator of what was the largest archaeological site in the world.
He left Cambodia in 1972 while the last two years he tried to ship the most beautiful pieces of Conservation in Phnom Penh.
He had two architects to assist in his work: Guy and Jacques Nafylan Dumarçay. The latter is currently in charge of construction of Baphuon.
Grand specialist Angkor Thom has also made archaeological missions in all of Cambodia and the world. (he contributed notably to the restoration of Borobudur and Pagan).
For the construction of Baphuon, he dismounted and laid the ground 60 000 blocks of stone, it was up to 900 workers and 38 designers.
He fell back on Phnom Penh in 1972, was attacked and stabbed severely in 1973, and finally left Phnom Penh in 1974.
Back in France he was concerned to modernize the French Archeology in its structures and its ways, and lectured widely around the world.
He did not disdain to write popular articles and was the inventor of the concepts of "city water" and "agricultural empire.
Main structures:
Angkor, Men and Stones (1968)
Angkor and Cambodia in the sixteenth from the Portuguese and Spanish sources. (He was the discoverer of Diego de Couto)
Listings Bayon
Agriculture and religion in the Angkorian Empire
Indochine, Carrefour des Arts
