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La Résidence Tarver, À La Nouvelle-Orléans / Michael K

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La Résidence Tarver, À La Nouvelle-Orléans / Michael K Document generated on 09/26/2021 2:48 p.m. Vie des arts La résidence Tarver, à la Nouvelle-Orléans Michael K. Tarver Residence Bonnie Crone Volume 20, Number 81, Winter 1975–1976 URI: https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/55054ac See table of contents Publisher(s) La Société La Vie des Arts ISSN 0042-5435 (print) 1923-3183 (digital) Explore this journal Cite this article Crone, B. (1975). La résidence Tarver, à la Nouvelle-Orléans / Michael K. Tarver Residence. Vie des arts, 20(81), 57–92. Tous droits réservés © La Société La Vie des Arts, 1975 This document is protected by copyright law. Use of the services of Érudit (including reproduction) is subject to its terms and conditions, which can be viewed online. https://apropos.erudit.org/en/users/policy-on-use/ This article is disseminated and preserved by Érudit. Érudit is a non-profit inter-university consortium of the Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and the Université du Québec à Montréal. Its mission is to promote and disseminate research. https://www.erudit.org/en/ Bonnie Crone La résidence Tar ver, à la Nouvelle-Orléans La Nouvelle-Orléans possède un riche héri­ navires — et couvertes de toits en stipes de remplis d'objets presque sans prix. Mais, en tage français. Peu de gens, toutefois, se rap­ palmier nain. Ultérieurement, cette rusticité fit plus d'être un lieu de tourisme, le Quartier a pellent que le fondateur de cette ville renom­ place à une architecture plus recherchée. Ces conservé son caractère domiciliaire, et les mée est un Canadien français, Jean-Baptiste Français entreprenants menaient une vie agré­ maisons y sont entretenues à l'instar de mu­ Le Moyne, sieur de Bienville. Son père, Charles able, même s'ils devaient faire venir en Nou­ sées. Des règlements très stricts et rigoureu­ Le Moyne, natif de Dieppe, en Normandie, emi­ velle-France, comme s'appelait alors la Nou­ sement appliqués obligent les propriétaires à gre tout jeune au Canada et y fit une grande velle-Orléans, tout le nécessaire, qui s'éten­ entretenir soigneusement leurs maisons, aux­ fortune dans le commerce. Par sa bravoure et dait jusqu'aux lustres aussi bien qu'aux chan­ quelles aucun changement ne peut être appor­ sa connaissance des langues indiennes, il ren­ teuses d'opéra. té sans une permission de la Commission du dit de précieux services à la colonie. Il obtint La France posséda la Louisiane jusqu'en Vieux-Carré, un conseil d'administration qui en concession et acquit plusieurs seigneuries. 1762, alors qu'elle fut cédée à l'Espagne. Les contrôle l'architecture des bâtiments dans cette L'une d'elles, Longueuil, est située en face de Français restaient obstinément attachés au partie de la ville. Montréal, et, après son anoblissement par le Vieux-Carré, autour duquel s'établirent, en une L'une des principales habitations du Quartier roi, Le Moyne en prit le nom; ses douze fils sorte de croissant, des Espagnols, des Améri­ français se trouve au 828 de la rue Burgundy. recurent des noms de terres normandes ou cains et d'autres colons, et leur influence per­ Construite en pierre enduite de mortier, elle canadiennes. La plupart d'entre eux sont en­ sista à se faire sentir — du moins partiellement appartient à un jeune avocat, Michael K. Tarver. trés dans l'histoire de la colonie; Iberville et — sur les nouveaux venus. En 1803, Napoléon Les archives de la Collection Historique de la Bienville, pour leur part, jouèrent un rôle con­ reprit possession de la Louisiane mais, la mê­ Nouvelle-Orléans indiquent que la première sidérable dans rétablissement de la Louisiane. me année, la céda aux États-Unis pour quinze concession de l'emplacement a été faite à un Iberville connut une grande renommée au millions de dollars. Français, M. de Macarty, en 1722, et que la Canada. Entré dans la marine, il y obtient rapi­ En 1788 et en 1794, des incendies désas­ maison existante date de 1852. Elle a été élevée dement un commandement et fut l'un des rares treux faillirent détruire entièrement le Quartier dans le quart de siècle qui va de 1835 à la capitaines français à obtenir des succès con­ français. Le Vendredi saint 1788, alors que de Guerre de Sécession, jugé comme la plus belle tre les Anglais pendant la Guerre de la Ligue pieux habitants avaient allumé des cierges, un période de l'histoire de l'architecture à la d'Augsbourg. Avec une flotte de cinq navires, coup de vent souleva les tentures qui déco­ Nouvelle-Orléans. L'économie était alors floris­ il défit les Anglais à la baie d'Hudson. faisant raient un autel dressé dans une maison de la sante, et jamais, avant ou après, a-t-on cons­ ainsi disparaître la menace qui pesait sur la rue de Chartres. Le feu qui s'en est ensuivi truit de plus belles maisons. Nouvelle-France. Une victoire subséquente sur dura cinq heures et consuma huit cent cin­ M. Tarver en fit l'acquisition, en 1969, et les côtes de Terre-Neuve accrut encore sa ré­ quante maisons, soit presque les trois quarts s'occupa immédiatement de la restaurer et de putation. Rendu inactif par la paix de Ryswick, de la ville. Six ans plus tard, un second incen­ la remettre dans son premier état. Cette char­ il reprit les projets de La Salle relatifs à l'éta­ die entraîna la destruction de deux cents bâti­ mante maison à trois étages occupe tout le ter­ blissement d'une colonie à l'embouchure du ments. La partie française de la ville fut virtu­ rain de 30 pieds sur 175. Au rez-de-chaussée, Mississippi. Bientôt rappelé en France, il re­ ellement anéantie. Ce qui lui succéda fut une le plan par terre est simple et caractérisé par çut de Louis XIV le commandement de l'expédi­ ville d'inspiration espagnole, avec ses maisons un double salon de 19 pieds carrés pour cha­ tion à laquelle la Louisiane doit sa fondation. à fort briquetage comprenant deux étages, un cun d'eux, une salle à manger, une pièce avec Iberville, avec un équipage de Canadiens, toit en tuiles, de larges arcades, des fenêtres porte donnant sur l'extérieur, une chambre à lit voile de La Rochelle sur deux frégates, La en éventail et des patios. Mais ces nouvelles coucher, qui sert en même temps de cabinet Badine et Le Marin; son frère Bienville l'accom­ constructions renfermaient aussi certains élé­ de travail et de petit salon, et une salle de pagnait. Le 2 mars 1699, il découvrait l'em­ ments d'origine française. Ainsi, presque toutes bains. Des appartements ont été aménagés bouchure du Mississippi. Sept ans plus tard, avaient en façade des balcons en fer forgé ou dans les étages, et l'annexe réservée aux es­ en 1706, Iberville mourut de la fièvre jaune. moulé. claves, en bâtiment d'utilité. Bienville continua d'explorer la région, mais Le Quartier français, tel qu'il est aujourd'hui, Chaque pièce possède une cheminée ornée ce ne fut qu'en 1718 que, remontant le fleuve, est un joyau d'architecture. C'est une ville à d'un manteau en marbre d'Italie; toutes les il conduisit un parti de cinquante hommes jus­ l'intérieur d'une ville, qui conserve encore le boiseries sont en cyprès, et les planchers, en qu'à un emplacement, près du Lac Pontchar- charme unique qui l'a caractérisée pendant chêne. Le grand salon se sépare en deux au train, que l'on commença à déboiser et sur plus de deux siècles. Parfaitement conçues et moyen de grandes portes battantes. Les murs lequel on construisit des abris sommaires. La admirablement adaptées aux besoins de ses ont quatorze pieds de hauteur. ville reçut officiellement le nom de Nouvelle- premiers habitants, les rues droites et de petite Comme ameublement, M. Tarver a choisi Orléans, en l'honneur de Philippe III, duc d'Or­ largeur, les maisons de brique de la vieille ville pour le grand salon (fig. 1, 2 et 4) un mobilier léans, grand-oncle de Louis XV et régent du demeurent comme un monument en l'honneur français ancien dont la plupart des morceaux royaume. des premiers colons de la Louisiane. Aucune sont de style Louis XV et Louis XVI: des tables Un ingénieur français, Adrien de Pauger, ar­ autre ville américaine, à l'exception, peut-être, Louis XV dont la tablette est en marbre, un rivé dans la colonie en 1720, dressa les plans de San Francisco, ne possède autant d'atmos­ ensemble précieux de bergères et un canapé de l'établissement originel, qui porte le nom phère européenne. Louis XVI, une table-bouillotte avec dessus de de Vieux-Carré et s'appelle, de nos jours, le Grâce au fameux square Jackson, bordé marbre et galerie de cuivre. La pièce princi­ Quartier français. Le plan d'ensemble ressem­ par le Presbytère et la Salle capitulaire, deve­ pale est un secrétaire de style Empire en four­ blait à ceux des villes françaises du Moyen nus de riches musées, la cathédrale Saint- che d'acajou dont la tablette est revêtue de âge et comprenait un square central, la Place Louis et les Pontalba Buildings, les plus an­ cuir (fig. 3). La table, près du canapé, est de d'Armes (maintenant, Jackson Square), qui ciens appartements des États-Unis où, depuis même style, et les candélabres placés de cha­ faisait face au Mississippi. Une église, les bu­ des siècles, les deux étages sont habités tandis que côté sont en bronze et français d'origine; reaux du gouvernement et les résidences offi­ que le rez-de-chaussée est occupé par des les flambeaux en verre qui flanquent la glace, cielles bordaient la place.
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