Continuing a work begun over 600 years ago This is the challenge that stained-glass artist Pierre-Alain Parot and visual artist Véronique Ellena have taken up with the ambitious "Stained Glass Window of 100 Faces” project at Strasbourg cathedral, which won the 2016 Liliane Bettencourt Prize pour l'Intelligence de la main® - Dialogues.

The challenge was to create a contemporary stained glass window in the heart of Saint Catherine’s chapel in the south aisle of Strasbourg’s Notre Dame cathedral that would be integrated into a famous group of 14th-century counterparts. To do that, photographer Véronique Ellena and stained glass artist Pierre-Alain Parot worked together for several months combining their respective skills with assistance from the Saint-Gobain research and development department, which helped them put to use a ground-breaking technique of reproducing digital images on glass.

The window has two eight-meter high bays, one with two lancets, the other with three, soaring towards the sky. The reproduced, enlarged monumental face of Flemish painter Hans Memling’s Christ Giving His Blessing is on the right. The face is made from over 200 portraits representing humanity. The rich composition and quality of light and colors make this a true masterpiece that Ms. Ellena and Mr. Parot call a "hymn to nature and a humanist message".

  • ©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • ©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
  • © Ellena

“They created an extraordinary dialogue, a true fusion of their skills that transcends their work.”

Pierre HerméPastry chef, member of the 2016 jury

Pierre-Alain Parot, stained glass artist

Mr. Parot's stained glass studio in the Château d'Aiserey near Dijon was among the first to be awarded the "living heritage company" label. He produces his own creations as well as those of many artists for public commissions. He has worked with Gérard Garouste on Notre-Dame de Talant church (21) and Gérard Collin-Thiébaud on the cathedrals of Tours and Cahors. With highly qualified apprentices, he works for Regional Historic Monument Preservation Commissions on period stained glass windows, in particular at the cathedrals of Bayonne, Troyes and Strasbourg.

©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller

Véronique Ellena, visual artist, in search of light

Paris-based visual artist Véronique Ellena is primarily a photographer, but also a poet, painter and stained glass artist. Her work speaks of the image in all its facets, from meaning to construction, material, color, light and transparency, where stained glass art finds its synthesis. She is very interested in the idea of the sacred and how it can permeate everyday life, but also strives to praise the commonplace. She highlights the beauty of the "little things in life that we no longer see", like the simple existence of the saints.

©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller

The Dialogues award of the Liliane Bettencourt Prize pour l'intelligence de la main®

The award Dialogues is given to an artisan for a work that displays a perfect command of technique and craftsmanship. It must be innovative and aesthetic but also contribute to progress in the artisan’s area of expertise. 

  • Amount: 50,000€ divided equally between the two winners, i.e. €25,000 each
  • Accompagnement: up to 150,000€, for the winners to carry out experiments, research and innovation on their prototype or object.
All the award-winners