Félix Faraut

Félix Gaspard Faraut (13 June 1846, Nice, France — 19 Aug. 1911, Phnom Penh) was a French archaeologist, engineer, artist, photographer and researcher who established the first repertory of Khmer monuments at the turn of the century.

As the mechanic on the French war boat ​“La Javeline” in 1873, Faraut was involved in the first Mission Delaporte. Drawing the Khmer monuments, he also became fluent in Khmer and ethnic languages. For the French Administration des Beaux-Arts, he documented numerous monuments, in particular Banteay Chhmar, Mebon, Pre Rup and the Neak Pean sanctuary, then joined the second Mission Delaporte in 1882 – 1883.

By then, and a one-year Buddhist retreat, Faraut had been hired by King Norodom as chief engineer-architect contractor for the expansion of the Royal Palace. In May 1888, the King granted him and associate Oscar Vandelet, the right to collect the levies on gambling (in particular the huy or ​‘game of 36 beasts’, a lottery originating from China and hugely popular in Cambodia) and rice alcohol. The French administration, who had attempted to ban that lottery on various occasions, protested the concession, definitely prohibited the huy and rejected to pay any compensation to Vandelet and Faraut thanks to a State Council edict in January 1891. 

Vandelet and Faraut’s residence (and famed vineyard) on the banks of the Bassac River in Phnom Penh, depicted by photographer Jules Gervais Courtellemont. [source: L’Empire colonial illustré].

Among his publications: De la vérification des dates des monuments khmers (2 vols., Saïgon, F.-H. Schneider, 1909 and 1910), L’Astronomie cambodgienne (Saïgon, F.-H. Schneider, 1910). Faraut’s drawings and photographs have illustrated several studies on Angkor and the Khmer civilization. 25 of his albums are kept at the Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts, Oxford, UK.