Maurice Glaize
Encyclopedia
Maurice Glaize was a French architect and archeologist, Conservator of Angkor
from 1937 to 1945.
(his father was an architect and his grandfather was Auguste-Barthélemy Glaize
), he attended at École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
, learning under the architect Henri Deglane. In 1913 he put in for the École française d'Extrême-Orient
(EFEO), but ranked second behind Georges Demasur. On January 3, 1914 he married Louise Carlier, who gave him four sons and was a devoted mate. He served during World War I
in a balloon unit
, and then finally on June 11, 1919 he achieved the qualification of architect dplg.
He lived in Paris several years, working mostly as freelance architect, but never losing his interest in Indochina. Thanks to his cousin, François Glaize, he was recruited by the Crédit foncier et de l'Union immobilière d'Indochine and worked as architect and agency manager at Phnom Penh
from 1928 to 1930 (participating into the building of the Royal Palace), then as architect-in-chief at Saigon from 1931 to 1934.
with his wife and two children on October 2, 1936. He was appointed permanent member of EFEO on December 1, 1936 and "Conservator of Angkor" in following year.
He initially accepted a relatively poor wage from government, considering his qualifications and the present state of his family, and encountered some difficulties dealing with colonial administration. Besides that it was only some years later, thanks to general governor Catroux, that restoration funds raised to a notable level.
(1937-1939), Phnom Krom
(1938) and Phnom Bok
(1939). For other buildings he used partially anastylosis
, as in Neak Pean
(1938-1939), Preah Khan
, Bayon
(between 1939 and 1946) and the North Gate of Angkor Thom
, but in particular cases he opted for deeper or larger interventions, as in Preah Palilay
(1938-1938), Bakong
(1936-1944), Banteay Samré
(1936-1946) and West Mebon
(1943-1944). The extent of his work led George Coedès
to assert that Maurice Glaize's name will remain bound to the resurrection of the Khmer
capital city of Angkor.
He also made several notable findings, like sculptures and foundation steles (e.g. the stele of Preah Khan), and some critical analysis of metodologies of restoration of Khmer monuments (see Glaize, 1941 and 1946). In 1944 he was the third conservator of Angkor (after Henri Parmentier and Henri Marchal
) who published a guide of Angkor, entitled Les Monuments du groupe d'Angkor, which is still now a reference text for visitors and is available freely in English on The Angokor Guide.
, where he participated in restoration works of the city. After having suffered health problems for several years, on July 17, 1964 he died of cerebral haemorrhage in La Rochelle
during sleep.
Angkor
Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries. The word Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit nagara , meaning "city"...
from 1937 to 1945.
Early years: education, wedding, war and professional experiences
Born to a family of artists in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(his father was an architect and his grandfather was Auguste-Barthélemy Glaize
Auguste-Barthélemy Glaize
Auguste-Barthélemy Glaize was a French Romantic painter of history paintings and genre paintings.- Career :He studied under the painters Achille Devéria and Eugène Devéria and taught Paul-Maurice Duthoit and his son Pierre-Paul-Léon Glaize....
), he attended at École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
, learning under the architect Henri Deglane. In 1913 he put in for the École française d'Extrême-Orient
École française d'Extrême-Orient
The École française d'Extrême-Orient is a French institute dedicated to the study of Asian societies. Translated into English, it approximately means the French School of the Far East. It was founded in 1900 with headquarters in Hanoi in what was then French Indochina. After independence, its...
(EFEO), but ranked second behind Georges Demasur. On January 3, 1914 he married Louise Carlier, who gave him four sons and was a devoted mate. He served during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in a balloon unit
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
, and then finally on June 11, 1919 he achieved the qualification of architect dplg.
He lived in Paris several years, working mostly as freelance architect, but never losing his interest in Indochina. Thanks to his cousin, François Glaize, he was recruited by the Crédit foncier et de l'Union immobilière d'Indochine and worked as architect and agency manager at Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
from 1928 to 1930 (participating into the building of the Royal Palace), then as architect-in-chief at Saigon from 1931 to 1934.
Conservator of Angkor
His contract wasn't renewed at the end of 1934 due to world economic crisis so, while on leave in France, when he became acquainted with the tragic death of Georges Alexandre Trouvé he put in for open position. His candidacy was formally accepted and after a temporary contract with Crédit foncier de l'Ouest africain at Dakar, he embarked for Saigon at MarseilleMarseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
with his wife and two children on October 2, 1936. He was appointed permanent member of EFEO on December 1, 1936 and "Conservator of Angkor" in following year.
He initially accepted a relatively poor wage from government, considering his qualifications and the present state of his family, and encountered some difficulties dealing with colonial administration. Besides that it was only some years later, thanks to general governor Catroux, that restoration funds raised to a notable level.
Field work
In spite of such economical restrictions, his work was surely impressive and involved many buildings, not only at Ankgor. Sometimes his intervention was limited and consisted in excavation and consolidation, as for East MebonEast Mebon
The East Mebon is a 10th Century temple at Angkor, Cambodia. Built during the reign of King Rajendravarman, it stands on what was an artificial island at the center of the now dry East Baray reservoir....
(1937-1939), Phnom Krom
Phnom Krom
Phnom Krom is a 140 m high hill close to Siem Reap, Cambodia.-Location:Phnom Krom is located to 12 kilometers southwest of Siem Reap town....
(1938) and Phnom Bok
Phnom Bok
Phnom Bok is a hill in the northeast of Eastern Baray in Cambodia, with a prasat of the same name built on it. It is one of the "trilogies of mountains", each of which has a temple with similar layout...
(1939). For other buildings he used partially anastylosis
Anastylosis
Anastylosis is an archaeological term for a reconstruction technique whereby a ruined building or monument is restored using the original architectural elements to the greatest degree possible...
, as in Neak Pean
Neak Pean
Neak Pean at Angkor, Cambodia is an artificial island with a Buddhist temple on a circular island in Preah Khan Baray built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII...
(1938-1939), Preah Khan
Preah Khan
Preah Khan , sometimes transliterated as Prah Khan, is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII. It is located northeast of Angkor Thom and just west of the Jayatataka baray, with which it was associated. It was the centre of a substantial organisation,...
, Bayon
Bayon
The Bayon is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambodia. Built in the late 12th century or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, the Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman's capital, Angkor Thom...
(between 1939 and 1946) and the North Gate of Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom , located in present day Cambodia, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was established in the late twelfth century by king Jayavarman VII. It covers an area of 9 km², within which are located several monuments from earlier eras as well as those...
, but in particular cases he opted for deeper or larger interventions, as in Preah Palilay
Preah Palilay
Preah Palilay is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia. It is located in Angkor Thom, 400 m north-west of Phimeanakas.-History:The coexistence of hindu and buddhist elements and lacking of foundation stele or inscriptions make somewhat difficult dating this temple...
(1938-1938), Bakong
Bakong
Bakong is the first temple mountain of sandstone constructed by rulers of the Khmer empire at Angkor near modern Siem Reap in Cambodia. In the final decades of the 9th century AD, it served as the official state temple of King Indravarman I in the ancient city of Hariharalaya, located in an area...
(1936-1944), Banteay Samré
Banteay Samré
Banteay Samré is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia located east of the East Baray. Built under Suryavarman II and Yasovarman II in the early 12th century, it is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style....
(1936-1946) and West Mebon
West Mebon
The West Mebon is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, located in the center of the West Baray, the largest reservoir of the Angkor area. The temple's date of construction is not known, but evidence suggests the 11th Century during the reign of King Suryavarman I or Udayadityavarman II.-Location:In the...
(1943-1944). The extent of his work led George Coedès
George Coedès
Georges Cœdès was a 20th century scholar of southeast Asian archaeology and history. Coedès was born in Paris to a family of supposed Hungarian-Jewish emigres. In fact, the family was known as having settled in the region of Strasbourg before 1740. His ancestors were working for the royal Treasury...
to assert that Maurice Glaize's name will remain bound to the resurrection of the Khmer
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The empire, which grew out of the former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia. Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city...
capital city of Angkor.
He also made several notable findings, like sculptures and foundation steles (e.g. the stele of Preah Khan), and some critical analysis of metodologies of restoration of Khmer monuments (see Glaize, 1941 and 1946). In 1944 he was the third conservator of Angkor (after Henri Parmentier and Henri Marchal
Henri Marchal
Henri Marchal was a French architect and civil servant. He devoted a great part of his life to research on the art and archeology of Cambodia and the conservation and restoration of Khmer monuments at the archeological site of Angkor, in Cambodia.After his baccalauréat in 1895, he was admitted to...
) who published a guide of Angkor, entitled Les Monuments du groupe d'Angkor, which is still now a reference text for visitors and is available freely in English on The Angokor Guide.
Last years
In 1946 the majority of French scholars left Indochina. After an extended leave, Maurice Glaize renounced to come back to Cambogia and settled in La RochelleLa Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
, where he participated in restoration works of the city. After having suffered health problems for several years, on July 17, 1964 he died of cerebral haemorrhage in La Rochelle
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
during sleep.
Maurice Glaize's inheritance
After Henri Marchal, who introduced anastilosys in Angkor, Maurice Glaize succeeded in adapting that method to available resources, value and structural conditions of each building. His work led to a better understanding of the role of architectural representations in Khmer civilization (Neak Pean, West Mebon). With Maurice Glaize restoration work and architectural research fed mutually, this became a primary principle in the following interventions of the EFEO in Cambodia.Quotations
Gradually the chaos becomes ordered, and one perceives the profusion of towers as being made from a
combination of elements grouped at the centre in a sort of bunched sheaf.
It’s no longer the building that matters, but only its symbolism.
-- Maurice Glaize, speaking about Bayon, in A guide to the Angkor Monuments
Selected works (in French)
- 1940 - Essai sur la connaissance de Nâk Pân après anastylose on persee.fr, Le gopura de Práh Pàlilai on persee.fr, Le dégagement du Phnom Krom, précédé de quelques remarques sur les fondations de Yaçovarman on persee.fr, BEFEO 40/2, pp.351-362, pp.363-370, pp.371-383
- 1941 - L'anastylose, méthode de reconstruction des monuments anciens, son application à l'art khmer, Cahiers de l'EFEO, 29, pp.25-32
- 1944 - À Angkor. Fouilles et Trouvailles à Bakong, Indochine (Hanoi), 187, pp.18-19
- 1944 - Les monuments du groupe d'Angkor, A. Portail (Paris), (2nd ed.1948, 3rd ed.1963, 4th ed.1993)