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EDITORIAL
"Napoleon the Little"?
In the French Bulletin for this week, there is a discussion of a French satirical periodical's ignorance of the history of Napoleon III. We particularly take issue at its barefaced repetition of a school of thought regarding the second emperor which derives from the ferocious criticisms which poured from the pen of Victor Hugo throughout the Second Empire period. David Baguley's Napoleon and his regime: An extravaganza (LSU press 2000) gives a useful synthesis of black and golden legend in French, English and German.
Whilst in the English-speaking world, Louis-Napoleon has needed less rehabilitation because he has been less vilified since 1870, there does exist a tradition of denigration, identifiable in a dictionary of phrases published in the same year as the debacle at Sedan... In his book Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, first published in 1870, the Reverend Dr Ebenezer Cobham Brewer noted six individual satirical nicknames for Napoleon III, namely 'Man of December', 'Man of Sedan', 'Badinguet', 'Boustrapa', 'Rantipole' and 'Verhuel'. Most of these were derived from Victor Hugo's poem Chatiments, but one, 'Rantipole', was clearly apocryphal since it is an English word! For further details on these words, see our period glossary.
These days, it is no longer necessary to 'judge' Napoleon III and the Second Empire. Historians are able to view these issues more dispassionately; indeed, this sort of "brownie points" or "black marks" type of history is far too simplistic to be interesting.
And so, as we move further into 2009, we here at the Fondation will be discussing and reporting on the battles which took place in Italy 150 years ago and which led inexorably to Italian unification. You could argue that this was one of Napoleon III's greatest foreign policy successes. We'll simply be trying to bring you a rounded vision of the question when we get there in June.
We wish you a good read here on Napoleon.org.
Peter Hicks
Historian and International relations manager, Fondation Napoléon
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PAINTING OF THE MONTH
The Grenadier de la Garde, by Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet
In his Abécédaire moral et philosophique à l'usage des grands et des petits enfants (published in 1835 in Paris by Gihaut), Charlet wrote that "the 'grognard' is a 'vieux brave' who is constantly dissatisfied, and is content to remain that way because such a state pleases him". The sullen expression, as well as the pipe and the fur hat, have become inseparable from the image of the grenadier de la Garde...
This painting also figures in the Charlet exhibition currently taking place at the Bibliothèque Paul Marmottan in Boulogne-Billancourt.
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FONDATION NAPOLEON EXHIBITIONS
Manderen and Schallaburg: practical information
Last week we brought you information regarding the two new exhibitions which will be opening soon and which will feature items from the Fondation Napoléon's collection. As a follow up, we have some information of a more practical nature.
Splendeurs de l'Empire ("Imperial Splendour")
This exhibition, which takes place at the Château de Malbrouck in Manderen (France), on the border with Luxemburg and Germany, opens on 15 March and runs until 31 August, 2009.
Napoleon, Feldherr, Kaiser und Genie ("Napoleon, Commander, Emperor and Genius")
Taking place at the Schallaburg castle, near to the city of Melk, in Southern Austria, "Napoleon, Feldherr, Kaiser und Genie" will be open to the public from 16 May until 1 November, 2009.
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JUST PUBLISHED
Lyre-guitar. Etoile charmante, between the 18th and 19th centuries by Eleonora Vulpiani
This lovingly illustrated and well-researched book, available in Italian and English (translation by Ivo Margherini) details the history of the lyre-guitar, an instrument that experienced great popularity during the late 19th century and into the 1820s. Napoleon is known to have offered Empress Marie Louise an apollo-lyre and Madame de Staël also played the instrument. The book covers the instrument's history, its origins, its development as well as the major composers, musicians and makers. It is also beautifully illustrated, and includes a work by Jean Dominique Ingres of Lucien Bonaparte's family which features a lyre-guitar. A CD of lyre-guitar music performed by Eleonora Vulpiani accompanies the books.
There are more details on Eleonora Vulpiani's website (external link), where you can also listen to excerpts of her playing in MP3 format.
And talking of music in the Napoleonic period, don't forget our upcoming atelier, entitled "Experience" of music in France during the Napoleonic period, which takes place on Tuesday 24 March.
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EXHIBITION
"Napoleon on the Nile: Soldiers, Artists, and the Rediscovery of Egypt"
"Napoleon on the Nile...", open until 29 March 2009, takes place at the University Syracuse Art Galleries in Syracuse, New York State (USA). Bringing together numerous plates from the Description de l'Égypte, vivid 19th-century Orientalist paintings that were influenced by them, and a selection of campaign letters and documents, this exhibition explores the legacy of the brief French occupation of Egypt, and reveals how the interaction between military power and scientific knowledge shaped the West's enduring image of that country.
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EXHIBITION
"Imperial painter: Pietro Benvenuti at the court of Napoleon and the Lorenas"
Born in 1769, Pietro Benvenuti was a major figure in Tuscan art during a period of transition from Neoclassicism to Romanticism. This talented portraitist was first named court painter and then director of the Florence Academy in 1807, thanks in no small part to Elisa Baciocchi, Napoleon's sister and soon to become Grand Duchess of Tuscany. In this exhibition, which is being held in Florence (Italy), a number of his most famous canvases are discussed in relation to the influence of his masters, including Sabatelli and Thorvaldsen. His "Napoleonic" years and the work he produced for the Cappella dei Principi in the Basilica di San Lorenzo, commissioned by Leopold II, are perhaps some of the most beautiful art-works in Florentine art.
200 YEARS AGO
The Pont d'Jena (cont.)
The work on the Pont d'Jena, begun towards the end of 1808 (see Bulletin n° 468), continued apace. In a report dated 19 March 1809, the Moniteur universel reported on its progress:
"Work on the Pont d'Jena (opposite the Ecole Militaire) advances rapidly; all the piers have either been sunk or are soon to be sunk into the river bed; the abutments are finished. The right bank is being raised to the same level. The statue of 'Armorica' (or Bretagne), […] near to the bridge, has been fully restored." [Moniteur universel, 20 March, 1809]
Despite the report's positive tone, the bridge would not be open to traffic until 1813.
150 YEARS AGO
Marriage: may be harmful to one's health
The Moniteur universel from 15 March, 1859, reported on a rather curious story that first appeared in the Nouveliste de Rouen:
"There exists in the countryside an old tradition that is not without its dangers. We of course are talking about the custom of discharging rifles and pistols in celebration of a marriage. There have already been many accidents, either through carelessness, or through the poor state of the arm in question.
A few days ago, a marriage was being celebrated in a village very near to Neufchatel; during the meal, one of the guests had the unfortunate idea of discharging a pistol under the table, to enliven proceedings. Unfortunately, in firing, the gun discharged its wadding, hitting a woman's foot with enough force to injure her.
It can be said that this unfortunate accident brought a sad end to a dinner that had begun so happily, and that the careless gunman must have regretted what he had, albeit involuntarily, caused."
The Prince Imperial celebrates his third birthday
On 16 March 1859, Louis Napoleon, the Prince Imperial, celebrated his third birthday. The Musée d'Orsay website has some fascinating period photographs of the Prince Imperial from 1859, taken by Disdéri. Click here to see him at play, on his wooden toy horse and dressed as a drummer (external link in French).
This also year marks the 13th anniversary of the la Route du Prince Impérial in South Africa, and in celebration a number of events will be taking place from 16 March onwards. Click here for more information on the commemorative events that are planned in South Africa.
Wishing you a very "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks and Hamish Davey Wright
Historians and web-editors
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N° 489, 13 - 19 March 2009
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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THE BIBLIOTHEQUE FONDATION NAPOLEON LIBRARY
Winter opening times:
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 1pm-6pm
Thursday: 10am-3pm
(Closed Friday)
The library will be closed exceptionally on Tuesday 24 March 2009.
THE MAGAZINE
Book of the month (English)
- Soldiers, Citizens and Civilians: Experiences and Perceptions of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1790-1820
Book of the month (French)
- 1809, les Français à Vienne. Chronique d'une occupation
Just published
- Charles Walton, Policing Public Opinion in the French Revolution: The Culture of Calumny and the Problem of Free Speech
- Eleonora Vulpiani, Lyre-guitar. Etoile charmante, between the 18th and 19th centuries
Seen on the web (all links are external in English unless otherwise noted)
- Eleonora Vulpiani - lyre-guitar project (in Italian and English)
- Napoleonic objects, including Napoleon's toothbrush, in the British Science Museum's online "Brought To Life" presentation
- The Peninsular War 1808-1814
- The Musée d'Orsay: the Prince Imperial at play (in French)
Press review
- The Nelson Dispatch, vol. 10, part 1, January 2009
- French History, vol. 23, n° 1, March 2009
Fondation Napoléon History Prizes 2008
- Francis and Madeleine Ambrière, Talma, ou l'histoire du théâtre
- Alain Decaux, Coup d'état à l'Elysée
- Edgardo Donati, La Toscana nell'impero napoleonico
Fondation Napoléon news
- Fondation Napoléon Research Grants 2008
WHAT'S ON
Conferences
- Les ateliers de la Fondation Napoléon: "Experience" of music in France during the Napoleonic period, Boulogne-Billancourt (France), 24 March, 2009
- Seventh annual conference of the Society of Dix-Neuviémistes, Bristol (UK), 27-29 March, 2009
- Napoléon, Montreal (Canada), 20 March - 3 April, 2009
- Australian Napoleonic Congress, Goulburn (Australia), 31 October - 1 November, 2009
Talks
- "Fêtes du printemps: Sur les traces des batailles napoléoniennes", Paris (France), 18 March, 2009
Commemorations
- Bicentennial commemoration of the death of Maréchal Lannes
- French presence in South Africa
Re-enactments
- Znaim 1809 bicentenary re-enactment, Znojmo and Dobšice (Czech Republic), 11-12 July, 2009
- Bivouac and the Battle of Oostmalle, Oostmalle (Belgium), 5-6 September, 2009
Exhibitions
- "Imperial Splendour", Manderen, France [15/03/2009 - 31/08/2009]
Full details
- "Napoleon, Commander, Emperor and Genius", Schallaburg, Germany [16/05/2009 - 01/11/2009]
Full details
- "Napoleon on the Nile: Soldiers, Artists, and the Rediscovery of Egypt", Syracuse, USA [29/01/2009 - 29/03/2009]
Full details
- "Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet and the origins of the Napoleonic legend", Boulogne-Billancourt, France [05/03/2009 - 27/06/2009]
Full details
- Imperial painter: Pietro Benvenuti at the court of Napoleon and the Lorenas, Florence, Italy [10/03/2009 - 21/06/2009]
Full details
- "Romania on the road to modernity: 150 years since the unification of the principalities under Prince Cuza", Bucharest, Romania [22/01/2009 - 24/05/2009]
Full details
- "Coinage at War. Catalonia in Napoleonic Europe", Barcelona, Spain [04/06/08 - 03/05/09]
Full details
- "The Crinoline Empire (1852-1870)", Paris, France [29/11/2008 - 26/04/2009]
Full details
- "Ben Weider Collection at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts", Montreal, Canada [Permanent]
Full details
- "Bonaparte and Egypt", Paris, France [14/10/2008 - 29/03/2009]
Full details
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