For this, they called upon Jean-Michel Alaux (1850-1935), Guillaume's elder brother, who made this small ink drawing once the work was completed; at the bottom right, you can see its monogram: G and A intertwined. The drawing was then published as a correspondence card frequently used by the castellans for their private writing.
The links between the Alaux and Delpech families were numerous. Jean-Michel's father, Gustave, had often worked in Lot-&-Garonne, building churches in Aiguillon, Montesquieu or Cocumont, but also private homes. IHere, Jean-Michel Alaux simply dressed the old house, flanking it with a powerful tower to which a turret is added, all overlooking a winter garden. The work was partly carried out by the Durand, a Clairacaise dynasty of contractors. From the large terrace, a splendid view of Clairac and the Lot valley opens up.
50 years later, Roche was going to experience new upheavals, when Edouard Delpech installed in the park an exceptional Renaissance fountain coming from the castle of Sauvebœuf (Dordogne) property of his stepfather Oberkampf.
Guillaume Alaux (1856-1912) belongs to a very long dynasty of architects and painters, still active today. He was the son of Gustave Alaux (1816-1882) architect, grandson of Jean-Paul Alaux (1786-1864), painter and former director of the École des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, great-grandson of the painter Pierre-Joseph Alaux (born 1756). A tradition maintained in the following generations: deceased on April 14, 2020 at the age of 94, Jean-Pierre Alaux was an official naval painter since 1975.
