Exhibition on Revolutionary costume

An exhibition on Revolutionary dress will run at the Musée de la la Révolution française at Vizille, from 28th June to 10th November. 

Quentin La Tour book

A new book on Maurice Quentin de La Tour was  published on 6th June.  The volume by Xavier Salmon, Director of works on paper at the Louvre, is the first monograph on the artist since 1928.

The Swing - new insights

 In the The Burlington Magazine for May: Yuriko Jackall, former curator of French paintings at the Wallace Collection outlines new findings on  Fragonard's The swing. The article has been made freely available on the Web: 

Jefferson letter to be auctioned

A rare autograph letter from Thomas Jefferson to Tench Coxe, written from Monticello to be sold by Siegel Auctions on 27th June 2024.  

"In this letter, written in 1795, Jefferson espouses the momentum of the "ball of liberty" and denounces the "atrocities of Robespierre" and the French Reign of Terror".

Remembering Éric Hazan

 The death on 6th June has been announced of the veteran Left-wing historian and publisher Éric Hazan, who  is known particularly for his works on the history of Paris. 

Sèvres at Waddesdon (Exhibition)

 This summer Waddesdon Manor showcases the work of Louis-Denis Armand (1723-1796), an artist at the Sèvres Manufactory who specialised in birds;  the exhibition, "Flights of Fancy: Birds at Waddesdon", runs from 22nd May - 27th October. 

Marie-Antoinette documentary

An English-language versions of the 2020 French TV documentary Marie-Antoinette, les derniers secrets d'une reine has recently been posted on YouTube. 

Hue's memoirs of Louis XVI

Rare Book Monthly for June publishes a short online article by Thibault Ehrengardt on François Hue's account of the last years of Louis XVI.

Beijing exhibition - update

The exhibition "The Forbidden City and the Palace of Versailles: Exchanges between China and France in the 17th and 18th centuries" is  running at the Palace Museum in Beijing until 30th June.

Chénier opera

  A new production of Umberto Giordano’s 1896 opera Andrea Chénier runs at the Royal Opera House from 30th May to 11th June.  I'm not an opera enthusiast, but the sets certainly look terrific....