Edmond Bille

Edmond Bille, born January 24, 1878 in Valangin (canton of Neuchâtel) and died March 8, 1959 in Sierre (Valais), was a Swiss painter and stained glass artist.

Edmond Bille spent part of his childhood in Dombresson, before enrolling in November 1894 at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Geneva (1895-1897), where he was a gifted pupil of Menn, Bodmer and Hugues Bovy. He perfected his training in Paris at the School of Decorative Arts and at the Académie Julian. In 1899, he worked in Neuchâtel in the studio of the painter Clément Heaton.

It was at the end of 1899 that his destiny changed with the discovery of the village of Chandolin, in the Val d'Anniviers. From then on, from 1904, Valais became his favorite country: Bille built a sumptuous residence in Sierre, the Château du Paradou, as well as a chalet in Chandolin.

In 1901, Edmond Bille was named a member of the Society of Swiss Painters, Sculptors and Architects (SPSAS).

He married, in 1904, Elisa Mayor de Clarens, they settled in Sierre. In 1911, Elisa Mayor died. Edmond Bille remarried in 1912 with Catherine Tapparel. Birth of Stéphanie Bille known as S. Corinna Bille, René-Pierre Bille and André, who died in 1985.

During the First World War, Bille has a great activity. He became involved through critical publications on Swiss politics at the time. In his residence in Sierre, he receives French anti-war personalities: Romain Rolland, Pierre Jean Jouve or René Arcos.

During the inter-war period, Edmond Bille put his activity as an easel painter on hold, discovered the technique of engraving and devoted himself to the practice of stained glass. He lived in Portugal from 1935 to 1942.

His work as a painter is presented in the most important exhibitions of his time, both in major international (Pittsburgh, Venice, Munich) and national events.

Edmond Bille is both a painter and a glassmaker. He uses various techniques such as gouache, watercolor and engraving. He also practices stained glass and mosaic.

He participated in more than 250 exhibitions during his life and still continues to be exhibited.

In 1907, he illustrated Le Village dans la montagne by Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz.

In 1915, he published Au pays de Tells, a volume of satirical drawings.

He launched with Paul Budry, Victor Gottofrey, Charles Clément and Maurice Hayward a satirical and pacifist review, L'Arbalète (1916-1917). In 1919, he also published a collection of prints, Une Danse macabre.

He made the stained glass windows for the ambulatory of the cathedral of Lausanne and in 1935 the stained glass windows and paintings for the church of Fully with the help of Joseph Gautschi, Albert Chavaz and Paul Monnier.

Between 1950 and 1956, Edmond Bille produced the impressive series of stained glass windows in the basilica of the Territorial Abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune, illustrating in particular scenes of martyrdom.

His monumental works can also be found in other churches, notably in Sierre, Chamoson, Chandolin, Saint-Pierre de Clages, Saint-Blaise.