In his early image themes, particularly at Le Trétien in around 1843- 1844, the Deserter often embarked upon pictures of soldiers. The oral tradition of the Michelet-Rossini family tells that the image would have been painted by the Deserter at Beuson in front of the chapel, whose bell tower to the right of the image is recognisable. The little girl Marie-Antoinette THEODULOZ will have come from Les Planards, the place where you are now, at Beuson, the village located by the river upstream, to meet her godfather Maurice-Joseph MICHELET who was back from military service.

PATOIS
– Hloeu de Boeujon chon pâ de poeûtron.
People from Beuson are no cowards.
– I tsapâa de Boeujon é dediéyte à Chînt’Aguyèta.
The chapel of Beuson is dedicated to Saint Agatha.

 This kind of painted image often takes its inspiration from images of baptism wishes, marriage souvenirs, recruitment souvenirs and military conscription souvenirs on which soldiers would proudly pose. The image-maker did not turn his hand to work in the fields in the same way as farm-workers did, and that was how he kept his hands white, clean and soft.

 Whether you be a walker, hiker or pilgrim, what would you bring with you as you make your way along the trails?