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OBITUARY
Paul-Marc Seta, trustee at the Fondation Napoléon, died on Friday 2 September in Paris after a painful illness. Born in 1933, Paul-Marc Seta's work career was spent working for various French companies (Manpower France and Europe, the Pechiney group, the Creusot-Loire group and finally the Usinor-Sacilor group), however his main interest in life was history, especially that of Napoleon. He was a member of the Association du Souvenir Napoléonien for many years and in his later year became its treasurer. In order to provide a replacement for comte Florian Walewski, who died in September 2003, the Souvenir Napoléonien appointed Monsieur Seta to sit on the board of trustees of the Fondation Napoléon, where (last December) he became deputy treasurer.
The Swedish delegation of the Association du Souvenir Napoléonien has informed us of the death of Paul Britten Austin, in July of this year. Not only the Napoleonic author, Paul also participated in the Fondation's Napoleon Correspondence project.
The Fondation Napoléon presents its sincere condolences to the families and friends of Paul-Marc Seta et Paul Britten Austin.
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THIS MONTH'S PAINTING
"Atala au tombeau" (The entombment of Atala) also known as "Les funérailles d'Atala" (Atala's funeral), by Anne-Louis Girodet (1767-1824)
The novel Atala or the love of two savages in the wilderness by Chateaubriand gave Girodet the subject for one of his most popular paintings. We bring you Girodet's religio-erotic masterpiece.
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CENTENARY
Signed by French president Emile Loubet on 26 July, 1905, the decree which established the creation of the Musée de l'Armée enshrined the union of the Musée de l'artillerie and the Musée historique de l'Armée, already present (but separate) in the Hôtel des Invalides.
The Musée d'Artillerie, founded during the Revolution had inherited two important arms collections: that of the Crown Wardrobe (the Garde-meuble de la Couronne) and that belonging to the Princes de Condé (Chantilly). In 1872, these were both installed at the Invalides and enriched with pieces from diverse sources, but notably the Bibliothèque Nationale, the Louvre, the Artillerie de Vincennes, the Hôtel des Monnaies, the Château de Pierrefonds, not to mention many acquisitions resulting from the colonial campaigns and private donations.
The Musée historique de l'Armée was founded in 1896 by a society, the Sabretache, whose president, the renowned military painter Edouard Detaille, wished to create out of his collection a national military museum based on the model of the 'Salles rétrospectives' of the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889.
Various different events have been planned to celebrate the centenary of the creation of the Musée de l'armée. Each of these events recalls the key moments in the history of the museum and the Hôtel des Invalides. Included is an exhibition describing the gradual growth of the museum, from the first 'cabinets d'armes' of the Ancien Régime, to ATHENA, the modernisation programme of today.
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PUBLICATION OF THE CORRESPONDANCE GENERALE DE NAPOLEON
You probably spent this summer reading volume 2 of the Correspondance générale de Napoléon. Indeed, what better place than the beach to read about the Egyptian campaign! This autumn we're putting the final touches to volume three (for the years 1800 to 1802) aiming at publication in January 2006. You can participate in the adventure (if you can read French and live in or around Paris) by becoming «corresopnding member». As a volunteer, you will be trained (in French) in paleography, in computer abilities, and in the history of Napoleon's letter. Currently the team is working on the years 1805 to 1808.
If, on the other hand, you own - or know a person or institution which possesses - letters of Napoleon (evern for the periods which have already been published), lpease don't hesitate to contact us.
Whether you're a fan, or simply just interested (or know someone else who might be interested), come and join in the fun and discover the Empire from the inside.
For any further information or to join, contact Peter Hicks for Emilie Barthet, director of the project (either by e-mail or by phone ++33 (0)1 56 43 46 06).
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200 YEARS AGO
On 22 Fructidor, An XIII (9 September, 1805), Napoleon re-introduced the gregorian calendar as a replacement for the republican calendar. The return to the old dating dystem was to come into effect on 1 January, 1806.
On 6 October, 1793 (15 Vendémiaire, An II), the Convention decided to create a new calendar for the new Republic, fixing the start date as the day when that Republic was proclaimed, namely 22 September, 1792. Despite the poetry of the names for the days and the months, the new system was fairly complicated and the French population never really adapted to the new calendar.
As for the seven-day week, it was replaced by a ten-day cycle called a 'décade': day names were changed to primidi (oneday), duodi (twoday), tridi (threeday), quartidi (fourday etc.), quintidi, sextidi, septidi, octidi, nonidi and décadi. Months were made up of three decades, and the year ended after Fructidor with 5 supplementary days (Jours supplémentaires); and a 6th 'Jour de la Révolution' for leap years.
During the Consulate, a law of 11 Germinal, An XI (1 April, 1803) was promulgated which detailed the use of first names: citizens were no longer allowed to choose from the names given to the days in the republican calendar but had to select from amongst those given for the Gregorian calendar or figures from history. Those taken from the republican calendar were thenceforth forbidden. No more Thimèle, Aubépine, Basilio, Belle de nuit...
Discover the essential tool: the calendar converter!
On 23 Fructidor, An XIII (10 September, 1805), the Austrian opened hostilities invading Bavaria, which had previously signed a treaty on 24 August with France.
On 24 Fructidor (11 September), the Kingdom of Naples joined Austro-Russo-British coalition.
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Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week.
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
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.
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THIS WEEK
PRESS REVIEW
- The Gazette: the Member's Journal of The Napoleonic Alliance, vol. 2005, no. 1
- The Gazette: the Member's Journal of The Napoleonic Alliance, vol. Spring 2005
WHAT'S ON
- Exhibition: Napoleone e il Piemonte. Capolavori ritrovati, Alba, Italy
- Exhibition: Napoleon: Art and Empire in the age of Trafalgar, Barnard Castle, UK
- Exhibition: The Empress Josephine: Art and Royal Identity, Amherst, MA, USA
- Tour: Napoleonic Society of America, Imperial tour of Italy
- Exhibition: Nelson and Napoleon, National Maritime Museum, London, UK
- Conference: The Battle of Trafalgar Conference, at Action Stations, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, UK
THE MONTHLY TITLES
- This month's book: GOETZ, Robert, 1805: Austerlitz: Napoleon and the Destruction of the Third Coalition
- This month's painting: "Atala au tombeau" (The entombment of Atala) also known as "Les funérailles d'Atala" (Atala's funeral), by Girodet
- This month's article: O'Meara's account of Napoleon on the invasion of the England
- In the Collectors Corner, The Cent-Jours standard Eagle of the 6e Régiment des Chasseurs à Cheval
Got a problem with a link in the letter? Try the homepage http://www.napoleon.org
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