The story of Heinrich GROSS's manuscript
MUSEUM AREA 5 to 17 and underground environment
In 1529, George d’Ainvaux , the receivor of the mines, payed 2 florins (1 tenth of his salary) to Heinrich GROSS, an artist, to have a sign with the Duke of Lorraine's coat of arms erected in the center of the minors' market place in Sainte Marie aux Mines. That sign, painted by the artist himself was actually the one to be put in place, provided for in the regulations in force, issued by the Duke René II, on the 2nd of June 1508 and intended for the arms of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.
A few years later , the same receiver asked Heinrich GROSS to take care of the casing and painting of the House of Justice's stove (ausdictes mynes).
Georges d'Ainvaux, who had been receiver of the mines of the Cross for many years, lived in a big house built a little earlier than the door of the "Rochotte" (today called the Saint Charles street). For the coming and visit of the Duke Antooine de Lorraine, the officers had had the sign with the city's arms repainted. It is likely that, for that occasion, the receiver asked Heinrich GROSS, whose talents were very much appreciated, to paint a series of drawings relating the minors' activities, this as a gift for their sovereign.
We do not know the whereabouts of those drawings until 1869. Then, we find mention of them in a list price belonging to Baron Pichon, catalogue prepared by Potier, a bookseller :
"Collection of 35 drawings, representing work in the silver mines of Saint Nicolas, the life of the minors and everything related to their profession. This collection is very particular. The drawings are skillfully made with a quill pen and colored. On each of them there is an commentary in French, in Gothic characters… "
Since that time, the collection has been at the School of Fine Arts in Paris. It is made up of 25 sheets with drawings on both sides of aech sheet except for the first one. Each one of them is brightened up with water colours, in blue, violet, yellow and orange for the faces. Their support is made of thick paper. The pages are about 31,7 cm high and 41,5 cm wide in average.
It was only at the Tourcoing Exhibition in 1962 that they became aware of the importance of those manuscripts and their connection with the mining scenes represented and the local mines. André Girodié, a collaborator with the magazine "Lorraine Illustrée", published 8 of those drawings, then made a complete publication of the work of Heinrich Gross.
Published in 155 numered copies, those publications have unfortunately been lost, and there are less than ten of them remaining in public libraries.
