Trees of Life

« After publishing in 1968 “The Search for Religious Art”, which he believes to be his spiritual testament, Mr Sahuguet discovers a new major theme: the Tree of Life. He tackles the technical demands of painting on wood panels and other wood surfaces like carriage wheels, and adopts a universal symbolism, introduced to him in particular by Hebrew scholar and writer Dominique Aubier. In formal and spiritual terms, Sahuguet produces over 40 Tree of Life works, taking a traditional path in a prodigious effort aimed not at restoration but at expressing the sources and essential inner workings of a timeless, universal symbolism based on the specific features of “biblical writing” ».

Philibert Secretan – Préface de l’Apocalypse de Jean’ vue par Charles Sahuguet. Editions Saint Augustin.

Charles Sahuguet

Charles Sahuguet painted a total of 96 ‘Trees of Life’ on wood surfaces.

In 1994, Madame Sahuguet donated 39 “Trees of Life” on wood panels to the Caunes Minervois municipality, to be displayed at the Abbey.

The symbolical ‘Battle of the Snake and Eagle’ panel has been on display at Espalion City Hall since 2002.