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This month's object
At the moment when Europe is welcoming the single currency, here's one last fond farewell to the Franc, after 641 years and 27 of existence!
Discover the 5 Franc piece of 1806
Fondation Napoléon News
The Fondation Napoléon's programme of activities for 2002
On 6 February, 2002, the Baron Gourgaud and his colleagues are to present to the public a broad outline of the Fondation's programme of activities for 2002. This presentation will take place at 10-30am in the Auditorium Austerlitz of the Musée de l'Armée (Hôtel des Invalides). Free entry (limited number of seats).
The Bibliothèque Napoléon, a collection books published by the Fondation Napoléon and Nouveau Monde Editions, is to add three titles to its list in March 2002.
In the series "études", professor Luigi Mascilli Migliorini, of the Istituto orientale universitario of Naples, is to publish a French translation and update of his excellent Le mythe du héros. France et Italie après la chute de Napoléon, whilst Professor Jacques-Olivier Boudon, President of the Institut Napoléon, offers his Dictionnaire du Haut Clergé sous le Consulat et l'Empire. Two key works.
In the series "Great Historians", the Bibliothèque Napoléon is to present a sumptuous re-edition of Louis Madelin's Fouché, in two volumes. Advanced orders for this work can be made on the site
Nouveau Monde Editions.
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO...
24 January (4 Pluviôse, An X), the Journal des débats published the following announcement: in conformity with the bill passed by the Consuls concerning the transfer of the Bibliothèque nationale, the literary/scientific societies and the artists who live in the Louvre may continue to live there until 21 April (1 Floréal), the date on which repair work is due to start. The Sorbonne will continue to house a great number of artists selected by the government.
25 January (5 Pluviôse, An X), Bonaparte was elected President of the Repubblica Italiana, the new title for the Repubblica Cisalpina due to come into force 26 January. Francesco Melzi d'Eril was appointed vice-president.
Melzi's brief was to make the republic into a modern state, whilst at the same time accomodating Murat and his troops stationed in Italy. Even though he was opposed to the creation of the monarchy in 1805, he was the first to be ennobled in the Kingdom of Italy, becoming the Duca di Lodi on 20 December, 1807. Limoged for a certain time, he returned to power and influence in 1809 when he acted as President of the Consiglio privato and the Consiglio dei ministri during the absence of the viceroy Eugène de Beauharnais. He died in Milan, 16 January 1816.
Ferdinando Marescalchi (1764-1816) was appointed Foreign Minister, a post which he was to continue to occupy when the republic became a kingdom in 1805.
The government of the Repubblica Italiana took office on 20 Pluviôse.
28 January, 1802 (8 Pluviôse, An X), creation of the Ecole spéciale militaire (Special Military School), an officer training academy
29 January (9 Pluviôse, An X), the teachers at the Paris Ecole de peinture et de sculpture (Painting and Sculpture School) awarded two prizes:
the Torse peint (painted torso) prize founded by Caylus,
and the Tête d'expression (expressive head) prize founded by Latour
The first was shared ex-aequo by Ingres, pupil of David's, and Thomassin, pupil of Vincent's. The second was won by Matte, sculptor.
Journal des débats, 11 Pluviôse, An X
After a short military career, Anne-Claude-Philippe de Tubières, Comte de Caylus (1692-1765), turned to engraving (engravings after Rubens, Van Dyck, Leonardo da Vinci, Watteau). Member of the Académie royale de peinture et sculpture in 1731, he was an important art patron of his time.
Portrait and character painter, Louis Thomassin exhibited works in the Salon during the period 1796 to 1810.
Pupil of Vien, François André Vincent (1746-1816) won the Premier prix for painting at the Ecole de l'Académie royale in 1767 (after having won second prize in 1766). After a stay in Italy, he entered the Académie royale de peinture in 1777, becoming professor there in 1792. He exhibited works at the Salon during the period 1777 to 1801 and was at the time considered a great artist.
Pupil of Monot and Dejoux, Nicolas-Augustin Matte (1781-1837) won the Grand prix de Rome in 1807, and exhibited works at the Salon during the period 1810 to 1835.
31 janvier (11 pluviôse, An X): the First Consul returned to Paris.
Wishing you a very enjoyable, Napoleonic, week.
Peter Hicks
Web editor
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NEW
Dust off your dictionaries! Our Napoleonic directory has a new website, WorldTempus, a site in French dedicated entirely to clocks and watches, both then and now - there's also a bi-lingual glossary! Click on the section entitled 'Other'.
EACH WEEK, you will find:
- our Press Review bringing you information about articles published, snippets of information:
This week
- A diorama of the Battle of Maloyaroslavetz and photos of a recent re-enactment
- The contents of volume 7, part 9 of The Nelson Dispatch
- recent publications, in Just published:
- A. Pillepich: Milan, capitale napoléonienne
- Dictionnaire des ventes d'art: 1700-1900: le Mireur, in 7 volumes
- Paul Britten Austin, 1815: The Return of Napoleon
- Philip G. Dwyer (ed.), Napoleon and Europe
AGENDA
INTERNATIONAL:
- International study days: The codification: origins and perspectives: the Code Napoléon (impact on the jurisprudence of the countries which adopted it)
- International competition: the Code Napoléon, origins and perspectives
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