A resident of Challans, France, has privately commissioned an impressive 23-foot mural honoring Jacqueline Auriol, the famous aviator from Vendée who made aviation history in the 1950s. Martine Barreau decided to have the artwork created on her garage wall facing Galliéni Street, choosing to celebrate this extraordinary woman's legacy through public art.
The timing of this private initiative coincidentally aligns with the city of Challans' inauguration of its new artistic pathway, which includes three sculptures distributed across Place de Gaulle and Place de l'Europe, as well as the forecourt of Le Marais theater. A fourth official artwork is expected by the end of the year on Galliéni Street, the same street where Barreau's private tribute now stands.
Barreau, who organizes the well-known sculpture salon in La Garnache with her husband Raymond through their ArtEmotion association, was inspired by her travels to create something beautiful for her community. "We've lived at Place Saint-Antoine for 17 years. The house was restored but we never did anything with the garage wall facing Galliéni Street," Barreau explained. "During our travels, especially for the salon, I had the opportunity to cross cities where the houses are very colorful. Then I discovered the mural about the Martel brothers in La Garnache and I loved it. So I contacted its creator, mural painter Sébastien Bouchard."
The 23-foot by 10-foot creation, visible to passersby on Galliéni Street, is entirely privately funded without any connection to the city hall. "I wanted to honor a woman on my wall and the first name that came to mind was Jacqueline Auriol. She was a truly magnificent woman," Barreau said with admiration.
Jacqueline Auriol's remarkable life began in 1917 when she was born into a privileged background. Born Jacqueline Douet, her father was a wood merchant and her mother was Parisian. She moved to Paris to study at the École du Louvre, pursuing decoration initially. An accomplished athlete, she met her future husband Paul Auriol at a ski resort. Her father-in-law was none other than Vincent Auriol, who became President of the Fourth French Republic in 1947.
It was on the advice of a former military pilot that Auriol abandoned decoration to make a complete career change toward aviation. However, tragedy struck on July 11, 1949, when the seaplane prototype she was co-piloting crashed on the Seine River. Severely injured, she suffered multiple skull fractures and was disfigured. She had to undergo about twenty surgical operations in the United States in just two years.
This accident could have ended her aviation dreams, but the woman from Challans had character and persisted in her path. "When she had something in mind, she would see it through to the end," Martine said with admiration. "She was a powerful woman." Despite her injuries, Auriol's determination led her to achieve unprecedented success in aviation.
Jacqueline Auriol went on to break numerous records throughout her career. In 1952, she became the fastest female aviator in the world with a record of 855.92 km/h (531.94 mph). Her record was taken the following year by American aviator Jacqueline Cochran, sparking a fierce transatlantic rivalry between the two women. In 1953, the aviator from Challans became the first European woman to break the sound barrier. In 1955, she regained her title as the world's fastest woman by flying at 1,151 km/h (715.21 mph).
"Based on everything I've read about her, I imagine she was an adorable woman who knew how to be loved. She was an extraordinary personality who had an exceptional life," Barreau reflected. Through Erick Croizé, president of the Society of History and Studies of Northwest Vendée, Barreau was able to contact Siegfried Auriol, Jacqueline's grandson who was himself a test pilot and whose daughter works in aeronautics. "He was very happy to hear about a mural dedicated to his grandmother," she noted.
Jacqueline Auriol lived until 2000, passing away at the age of 83 after a life that defied conventions and broke barriers for women in aviation. Standing before the completed mural, Martine Barreau expressed her joy in contributing to "making the city pleasant." She hopes other residents might follow their example, even mentioning another illustrious woman from Challans, Colette Le Bret, as a potential future subject for public art. The mural serves not only as a tribute to an extraordinary aviator but also as an inspiration for the community to celebrate remarkable women who have shaped history.
