| |
| |
THIS MONTH'S OBJECT
Napoleon I's Athénienne, by Biennais
«In the emperor's bedroom there was a magnificent silver lavabo resting upon a stand - each of its legs was carved in the shape of a swan's neck - together with a ewer of the same metal, made by the goldsmith Biennais; my desire to take it was countered by the fear that I was committing a reprehensible act. The emperor's delight in the piece was clear from his frequent use of it, I knew how much he would miss it; after shaving he loved to plunge his face into a great deal of water […] with the idea that he would like it, I had it carried to my carriage, and I covered it with my coat so as not to excite the curiosity of passers-by either in Paris or on the road». Such was the description in the Memoirs of Napoleon's faithful valet, Marchand, of the way the latter made sure that, at the end of June 1815, this sumptuous Athénienne (washstand) accompanied the emperor to Saint Helena.
|
|
|
| |
NAPOLEONIC PAGES
L'Europe et la Révolution, by Albert Sorel (Paris: Plon, 1885-1904)
A key work in French on the Revoultionary and Napoleonic periods, "L'Europe et la Révolution française" attempts to show the deep-running continuity of French foreign policy from the Ancien Régime to the following periods. It was not so much Revolutionary ideology, Sorel argues, which inspired the wars of 1792-1815, but rather it was France's traditional foreign policy of defence and conquest of France's 'natural borders'.
|
|
|
| |
200 YEARS AGO
17 November (26 Brumaire, An XIV), Napoleon at Znaim learns of the disaster at Trafalgar.
19 (28), Anglo-Russian forces land on the coast of the kingdom of Naples - part of the allied plan to draw French forces in Italy south, away from the main theatre in Germany and Bohemia.
20 (29), the emperor establishes his headquarters at Brünn. The following day, he reconnoitred what was to become the battlefield of Austerlitz.
Next week we will be bringing you our Austerlitz special dossier!
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THIS WEEK
PRESS REVIEW
- The Member's Bulletin of the Napoleonic Society of America, Bulletin 80, Summer 2005
- European Review of History, Volume 12 Number 2/July 2005
JUST PUBLISHED
- BROCKLISS Laurence, CARDWELL John, MOSS Michael, Nelson's surgeon, William Beatty, Naval Medicine, and the Battle of Trafalgar
- Sir Charles OMAN, A History of the Peninsular War, vol. VII, August 1813-April 14, 1814
WHAT'S ON
- Conference: Napoleon and Bonapartism in Italian political culture: 1802-2005, Milan, Italy
- Exhibition: Napoleonica: arms, medals, prints, memorabilia of the Napoleonic period, Arezzo, Italy
- Conference: "Austerlitz - Napoléon au coeur de l'Europe" (Austerlitz, Napoleon at the heart of Europe), Paris, France
- Exhibition: In the Service of Napoleon. The Dutch in time of War 1792-1815, Delft, Netherlands
- Conference: Forum Marengo VII 2005 "The eagle and the bee", Alessandria, Italy
- Exhibition: Napoleon on Campaign, the emperor's bivouac, at the Arc de triomphe de l'Etoile, Paris, France
- Exhibition: Napoleon: An intimate portrait, Washington, USA
- 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
THE MONTHLY TITLES
- This month's book: DANCOISNE-MARTINEAU Michel (ed.), CHEVALLIER Bernard (ed.), LENTZ Thierry (eds), Sainte-Hélène, île de mémoire
- This month's painting: The death of Napoleon, by Steuben
- This month's article: Saint Helena - prison island, Suzan O'Bey
- In the Collectors Corner, Napoleon I's Athénienne, by Biennais
Got a problem with a link in the letter? Try the homepage http://www.napoleon.org
<<
|
|
