A remarkable 19th century fresco was accidentally discovered during renovation work at a former sandwich shop in downtown Le Mans, France, but preservation specialists were unable to save the fragile artwork. The large mural, measuring 8 feet high and nearly 6.5 feet wide, was found hidden beneath tiles and drywall in the ground floor of a building on Rue des Minimes, less than three feet from where the shop's cash register once stood.

The discovery occurred during construction work following the sale of the former Grignotine sandwich shop. The fresco depicts a pastoral mountain landscape featuring a wooden chalet, azure sky, and a peasant woman accompanied by her goats. "It's surprising to discover this kind of landscape here!" remarked Anne Barkhausen, a heritage craftswoman who worked alongside artist Katia Renvoisé to attempt preserving the artwork.

Barkhausen, a local resident, first spotted the fresco by chance during the renovation work. She explained that while the author remains unknown, the fresco likely dates from the 19th century or possibly earlier, as this painting technique had been in use since the 18th century. The unexpected find represents a significant piece of local history that had been concealed for decades beneath modern wall coverings.

The two specialists attempted to remove the fresco using a technique called "facing," which involves applying thin opaque paper to protect the artwork, then heating it to detach it from underneath. Renvoisé detailed the process, explaining how they used a steam iron and palette knife to carefully separate the fresco from the wall. The goal was to successfully remove the entire piece so it could be properly analyzed and preserved for future generations.

Despite their expertise and multiple attempted techniques, the preservation effort ultimately failed due to the artwork's deteriorated condition. While the bottom portion of the fresco remained flexible and workable, the upper section suffered from significant damage. "The top has tears and especially nails in the wall that have rusted and are stuck," Renvoisé summarized, making any further manipulation impossible without risking severe damage to the artwork.

By midday on Tuesday, September 9th, both Renvoisé and Barkhausen were forced to abandon their preservation efforts. "It's part of the job, you have to accept it," Barkhausen sighed with resignation before closing the shutters of the former shop, which has not yet found a new tenant or purpose. The discovery highlights both the hidden historical treasures that may lie beneath modern renovations and the challenges faced by preservation specialists when attempting to save fragile cultural artifacts.