The Abbaye Royale at Fontevraud

ike many others, one day in Rome Daniel Courant was bowled over by the discovery of Robert Hupka's marvellous book. During his stays in Italy he bought more than a hundred copies of the book as gifts to make Hupka's work known to around him, until a trip to New York, a few years later, gave him the opportunity to meet him, and a deep friendship with the photographer began.

ith the amiable help of the Canton Art Institute, and with his sister, Myriam Courant, and a few friends, he then brought Manuel Albacete's exhibition to France. It was presented, in September 1989 at the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, as part of the Festival de France of which he was the director.

rstella drew on this first exhibition to develop little by little a new, considerably remodelled version, which was to bring Michelangelo's work out of obscurity, giving it at the same time extraodinary emotional intensity.

he exhibition then set off on a tour round France and Europe which was to create a stir at every stage along the way.