A Black dance master

 The Nogi media channel website publishes an article  on a little-known figure from Black history:  "Jean-Baptiste Médor, a black dance master in 18th-century Normandy" (English version 23rd May 2025)

Portrait of Louis XVII by Marie-Antoinette

The most poignant of the lots on offer at the Osenat sale "Royalty atVersailles", held on 18th May was this striking portrait of Louis-Charles of France in the prison of the Temple attributed to Marie-Antoinette. Annotated by the Empress Eugénie, "Drawn by his Unfortunate mother". Sold for €10,498.

Lock of Marie-Antoinette's hair

The Osenat sale "Royalty at Versailles" held on 18th May included several important items of Marie-Antoinette memorabilia, including her missel and a lock of her hair, which was sold to an anonymous buyer for  € 9,660.

Marie-Antoinette's pooche

 Also among the lots of the recent Osenat sale "Royalty at Versailles", held 18th May 20 2025, was this cute presumed portrait of 'Pompon', Marie-Antoinette's beloved dog by Jacques Barthélemy Delamarre. (Sold for €9,274.)

Napoleon's sword auctioned

On 22nd May a sabre which belonged to Napoleon was sold by Giquello in Paris for the huge sum of €4.6 million of €700,000–€1 million.  

Robert Darnton on The Writer's Lot

Robert Darnton's latest book The Writer's Lot: Culture and Revolution in Eighteenth-Century France (Harvard U.P.) is to be published on 30th May.

The Choiseul snuffbox - unpacked

A lecture by American historian Meredith Martin, posted on Youtube on 12th May, explores  wider themes suggested by the "Choiseul Snuffbox" (acquired by the Louvre in 2023).

Watteau at the British Museum

The  British Museum is currently holding a free exhibition of its extensive collection of Watteau drawings. The exhibition runs from 15th May to 14th September.

À la table de Voltaire (Exhibition)

 The exhibition  "À la table de Voltaire" runs at the Château de Voltaire at Ferney, from 8th May 2025 to 4th January 2026.

The Martyrs of Orange

 On 11th May Avignon's Archbishop François Fonlupt and neighboring bishops will mark the 100th anniversary of the beatification of the Martyrs of Orange — 32 religious sisters guillotined in July 1794  for refusing to renounce their faith.