Guérin's Robespierre to be auctioned

On 26th November Millon, Paris, is to auction several notable portrait drawings by Jean-Urbain Guérin. of notable French Revolutionaries.  Included is the original for the well-known engraving of Robespierre made by Freissinger for the collection of 22 deputies to the National Assembly in 1789.

Glorious French Revolution? (play)

 A new play, The Glorious French Revolution (or why it sometimes takes a guillotine to get anything done),  opens at the New Diorama Theatre to generally positive reviews.

For sale - THE diamond necklace.

All eyes will be on Sotheby's Geneva this November, when a necklace, thought to contain diamonds from the scandalous diamond necklace of 1784, comes under the hammer. 

"Exceptional" Christies sale

Christies have announced the highlights of their ninth "Exceptional sale" which will take place on 20th November. 

New Revolutionary postage stamps

 On 12th November the French post office is to issue two new stamps in its "Great Hours of French History" series. The event depicted will be the women's march to Versailles on 5th October 1789.

Madame du Châtelet (new book)

 The New Yorker for 28th October publishes a review by Adam Gopnic of Andrew Janiak, The Enlightenment's Most Dangerous Woman: Émilie du Châtelet and the Making of Modern Philosophy  (available in the UK at the end of January 2025)

Augustus the Strong

Tim Blanning's new book, Augustus the Strong: A Study in Artistic Greatness and Political Fiasco was published on 3rd October.  It's (almost) enough to make you forsake 18th-century France for 18th-century Germany...

Marie-Antoinette's library

Here is an interesting article, just published in a local US newspaper, with some useful references to Marie-Antoinette's libraries.

Flying tables....

The Carnets de Versailles for 22nd October publishes an article by Stéphane Castelluccio on mechanical chairs and tables, particularly the abortive project for a "flying table" at the Petit Trianon.

Revolution podcast

 Recently updated: "The French Revolution"  on The Rest is History podcast with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook.  

A Swiss guillotine

 A  new post  on Atlas Obscura features a surviving Revolutionary guillotine on display at the Tavel House in Geneva.  

Times article on the Carnavalet FR expo.

 Adam Sage publishes an article in The Times for 15th October on the new French Revolution exhibition at the Carnavalet.