Tuesday, 19 November 2024

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.

Monday, 18 November 2024

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.

Saturday, 9 November 2024

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. 

Friday, 8 November 2024

"Exceptional" Christies sale

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

Thursday, 7 November 2024

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.

Tuesday, 5 November 2024

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)

Friday, 1 November 2024

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...