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Chauvet Cave Through the Eyes of a Sculptor
Visit to the Chauvet Cave in 1999 by John Robinson
I stepped out into the late afternoon sunshine and took a deep breath of fresh sweet air. The view was glorious. The wall of the Canyon across the valley on the other side of the river was pitch black against a pinky blue sky. I was reminded of photographs of the famous Guilin Mountains in southern China. It was as though Nature had purposely blessed this whole area, here outside in the Canyon, and inside in the Cavern, so that man could have a special place to leave his special mark that has no equal.
I returned to the Hotel to share my experiences with Margie, have a strong drink, and a hot bath. Next morning I met Jean again in the car park, and set off up the track with him to the cave. It was drizzling and swirling mist again filled the valley. We soon arrived at the entrance, changed into our overalls, and once inside, pulled on our rubber shoes. I set off to crawl down the tunnel, and then climbed down the ladder, feeling quite at home.
This morning Jean had a meeting with Bernard at the Horse panel. Bernard had been recording the panel in detail, and Jean was to check his work with him. The job would take at least two hours. While they were working I was free to sit and watch. Nothing could have pleased me more as it meant that I would be alone for two hours in the cave with my own thoughts.
We reached the Horses and I found a comfortable seat where the plastic path branched off to the entrance of the Holy of Holies. I could see the men working about 30 feet away, their helmet lights flicking back and forth across the Horses, and could just hear them talking to each other in French. I was virtually alone. I opened my sketchbook and started to draw them as they worked.
I then drew the Horses, Aurochs, Rhinoceros, and the Chagall Horses. It was a wonderful feeling to be sketching these great works of art, and gave me a sense of communicating with the artists.
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I sat with my back to the entrance of the Sorcerer Sanctuary and looked out into the great Hillaire Chamber, and slowly swung my light across from side to side. The chamber is vast. Beautiful stalagmites rose from the floor, sometimes meeting, but often not, the stalactites that hung from the roof. I took out my binoculars and started to examine my surroundings.
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I suddenly realised that the Owl was looking back towards me over his shoulder and straight at the Sorcerer’s Sanctuary entrance. Surely he must have been placed here for that purpose? I turned the binoculars back towards the Horse panel to watch Jean and Bernard working at the face. They had moved down the panel to the right so I now had a clear view through the natural entrance to the Altar Chamber. I focused in on the Bear skull and suddenly realised that from where I was sitting, through the glasses, the shape of the Altar itself was like a giant Bear skull!
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