| |
| |
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN n° 695, 20 DECEMBER, 2013 – 9 JANUARY, 2014
"Dont go away, we'll be back after the break...!"
In 2013 we celebrated the bicentenary of the culmination of the Empire in Europe. The exhibition Napoléon et l'Europe which took place in Paris at the Musée de l'Armée from March to July was a huge success, and the commemorative events for the Battle of Leipzig in October also attracted a lot of interest. In 2014 we will be remembering (200 hundred years on) the French Campaign, a significant moment in European history. But before delving deeper into the New Year, let us recall some of the major events of 2013 in the Fondation Napoléon life.
As Sinatra would have sung, “it was a very good year”, with exciting partnerships and exchanges. We participated in the “Consortium on the Revolutionary Era 1750-1850” in Fort Worth (Texas) back in February. And throughout the year, items from the Fondation's collection were lent to exhibitions: notably to the Invalides Museum for Napoléon et l'Europe, but also more recently 180 pieces are currently on show in Kazakhstan in the exhibition Napoleon, His Life, His Legend, which opens today.
Thanks to you all, the subscription to save the house of Napoleon on St Helena has been a great success, enabling real progress in the restoration work in the Longwood house. Furniture from Longwood has also been sent to France for restoration. In fact, it's been so successful that we have decided to extend this restoration work, and as a result Operation St Helena has been prolonged into 2014.
In Paris, we are delighted to say that the talks organised by our Cercle d'Etudes have been very popular, both with our speakers and with the audience.
Last but not least, we have now released Volume 9 of Napoleon Bonaparte's Correspondence for the year 1809, the year when Austria once again took on Napoleon… Volume 10, for 1810, the year of building bridges with Austria, is planned for this coming year.
So roll on 2014! It's going to be a busy year, full of events and surprises. We won't go into details here, but there will be exciting news regarding our library, our websites, publications and conferences… Don't go away. We'll be back after the break…!
An excellent Christmas and peaceful New Year to all our readers!
Napoleonically yours,
The Fondation Napoléon team
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
The Fondation Napoléon will be closed from Tuesday 24 December in the afternoon to Wednesday 1 January. The library will be open on Monday 23 December (1-5pm) and on Thursday 2 January (10am-3pm).
|
|
|
| |
PAINTING OF THE MONTH > The Battle of Marengo by Swebach-Desfontaines
The French Revolutionary Wars enabled Swebach to practise his talent as a draughtsman very early on, sketching from life, in pencil or ink, scenes which were then reworked in wash or watercolour. The Napoleonic campaigns next offered him multiple subjects and, abandoning the military anecdote for a while, he made a little foray into historical painting by depicting battles. The Battle of Marengo kept in the collections of the Fondation Napoléon predates the painting of the Salon of 1802. This oil on panel, signed 1801, reveals the artist's full talent as he here demonstrates his fascination with Dutch painting.
> This painting is currently on show in Astana, Kazakhstan, for the exhibition "Napoleon, His Life, His Legend".
|
|
|
| |
WHAT'S ON > EXHIBITIONS
> NAPOLEON: HIS LIFE, HIS FAMILY
- Napoleon: His Life, His Legend, in Astana (Kazakhstan), until 23 February, 2014. The exhibition has just been inaugurated on 19 December, 2013!
- Napoleon's Sisters: Three Italian Destinies at the Musée Marmottan in Paris (France), until 26 January 2014
- The Eye of Napoleon at the Frazier History Museum in Louisville, Kentucky (USA), until 9 February, 2014 > The Napoleonic Historical Society is planning a weekend on 1 February, 2014, with a study day and a private visit of this exhibition. Book now!
- Woman of Two Worlds: Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte and her Quest for an Imperial Legacy until 9 June, 2014, at the Maryland Historical Society Museum, Baltimore (USA)
- El equipaje del rey José - Una historia de expolio y saqueo until 13 April, 2014, in Álava (Spain).
> LEIPZIG BICENTENARY
- Last days to see Heroes Made to Measure in Leipzig (Germany), until 5 January, 2014
- Exhibition at the Museo Napoleonico in Rome (Italy): "Sound of the Battle: the Leipzig Fortepiano" lasts until 16 February, 2014
> NELSON and THE BRITISH NAVY
- In Paris over Christmas, don't know what to do with the kids? Workshop for children 7-12 years old in Paris at the Musée de la Marine: Storming! Battle of Trafalgar Board Game and Party, on 23, 26, 27, 30 December, 2013
- Exhibition: "Turner and the Sea" at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London (UK) until 21 April, 2014
> WAR OF 1812
- By Fire and Sword: War in the Niagara Theatre, 1812-1814 until 30 June, 2014, at the Buffalo History Museum, New York (USA)
- The War of 1812 - An Exhibition, at St Catharines Museum, with Brock University (USA), until 31 December, 2014.
|
|
|
| |
9 JANUARY, 1873 > Death of Napoleon III
In commemoration of the death of Napoleon III on 9 January, 1873, why not perform your own "act of memory" by having a go at our Napoleon III quizz, scanning our detailed timeline, or reading Bagehot's insightful critique of the first thirteen years of the second emperor's rule?
ITINERARY > Boulogne s/ Mer
The city and area of Boulogne-sur-Mer in Normandy has designed this fascinating Napoleonic trail. Visit the Boulogne Camp, follow the Napoleon promenade in the fortified town, and walk in Napoleon's footsteps.
NAPOLEONICA. LA REVUE Issue n° 17
The time before Christmas is always rushed; you may not have had time yet to read our Issue n° 17 of Napoleonica. La Revue? There is much of interest: from the Vatican archives during the age of Napoleon to Barry O'Meara. Enjoy!
|
|
|
| |
DIGITAL LIBRARY > Romances of Reine Hortense
Entertain your family and friends! Gather round the piano and sing "Partant pour la Syrie" or "Sermens d'amour"...
|
|
|
| |
FESTIVE TREATS!
> A Napoleonic Christmas dinner
Are you bored with the traditional Christmas dinner and its lot of turkey and brussel sprouts? Napoleon.org comes to the rescue: why not cook a Napoleonic Christmas? Ditch the turkey and cook a crow soup for a change, impress your guests with the Christmas plum pudding, add a few Napoleonic mince pies, and prepare a good rum punch to accompany your meal - a Christmas neither your family nor your friends are likely to forget!
> Napoleonic Christmas entertainment
Reaching saturation point with Christmas carols? Look no further: what could be more exciting than playing Bernard Viguerie's piano piece "the Battle of Marengo"? And this is especially appropriate given the subject of our Painting of the Month. Get the children to bang on the piano for the cannon blasts!
There's even an article on this sort of battle piece in Napoleonica. La Revue here.
> Christmas selection...
Christmas shopping can be a stressful experience, but the Fondation Napoléon has made your task easier with this beautiful selection of Napoleonic gifts for your nearest and dearest.
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" festive season,
Peter Hicks and Lucie Louvrier
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N° 695, 20 DECEMBER, 2013 – 9 JANUARY, 2014
Interested in the work of the Fondation Napoléon? Why not participate, either generally or in a specific project, by making a donation?
© This Napoleon.org weekly bulletin is published by the Fondation Napoléon. Reproduction or all or part of this bulletin is forbidden, without prior agreement of the Fondation Napoléon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATION ST HELENA
The Fondation Napoléon and the Souvenir Napoléonien, in association with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have announced the prolongation of its international fund-raising campaign to restore and save Napoleon I's residence on the island of St Helena. All the details regarding the campaign as well as donation forms and advice for donating from outside France, can be found on napoleon. org.
You can still donate online to the project via the Friends of the Fondation de France in the US here.
ALWAYS AVAILABLE
Problems with a link in this letter?
- Check the homepage on napoleon. org
- View back numbers of the bulletin
- Contact us
Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter!
napoleon. org - related content:
MAGAZINE
EVENTS
On now and coming up
A selection of events taking place now or in the coming weeks, taken from our What's on listings.
PRESS REVIEW
- The Forgotten War of 1812 - by David Shribman
- War of 1812 – First Nations
- £100,000 grant to the Royal Green Jackets Museum in Winchester to help fund a Battle of Waterloo bicentenary exhibition
SEEN ON THE WEB (external links)
- We're amazed that this Nebraska woman is amazed at her own creative abilities. Read on...
- About the success of the War of 1812 commemorative events in 2012 and 2013.
- Commemorative events of the War of 1812 in Oswego County, NY (USA)
- A War of 1812 veteran is honoured 200 years later in Canada (with photos and video)
NAPOLEON.ORG
THE BEST OF THE MONTH:
- Book of the month
- Painting of the month
- Objet d'Art of the month
- Article of the month
NAPOLEONICA. LA REVUE
Available free on Cairn.info
THE BIBLIOTHÈQUE MARTIAL-LAPEYRE FONDATION NAPOLEON LIBRARY
The library is open on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 1pm – 6pm and on Thursdays from 10am – 3pm. The library will be closed from 24 December 2013 to 1 January 2014 and closed on Friday 3 January.
Online catalogue
Digital Library
Contact
ACCOUNT DETAILS
To change your email address, unsubscribe, and sign up for the French information bulletin.
|
|
