Reconstruction work at Saint-Denis

 Notre-Dame is not the only Parisian church scheduled for renovation! At the Basilica Saint-Denis the tower and north spire, dismantled for safety reasons in 1846, are to be reconstructed. 

New film on Olympe de Gouges

 The 2023 TV film Olympe, une femme dans la Révolution was broadcast on 3rd March on France 2 and is now available on streaming services, including Prime Video, though, sadly, not as yet in the UK. The producer is Julie Gayet, who also stars in the title role.

Remembering Jean Calas

Today, we remembers the condemnation of Jean Calas on 9th March 1762 and Voltaire's fight for his rehabilitation. 

Richard Mique, Architect of Queens (Lunéville)

An exhibition on Richard Mique,  Architect to Stanislas Leszcznski and to Marie-Antoinette, runs at the Hôtel abbatial in Lunéville from 3rd February to 3rd November. 

Watteau exhibition at Chantilly

From 8 March to 15 June 2025, the Château de Chantilly is devoting an exhibition to Watteau,  centring  around the holdings of the Musée Condé  (four paintings and six drawings) which have been newly restored.

The Revolution in 50 objects

 Jean-Clément Martin's lastest book La Révolution française – 50 objets racontent is published on 27th Feb.

Joseph Chalier lived here....

 In Lyon, rue de la Bourse, "at the sign of the Grand Tambour", Joseph Chalier once resided - imaged posted on X by Paul Chopelin  26.02.2025.

Marie-Antoinette biopic - Season 2

 The second season of the blockbuster TV series Marie-Antoinette, written by Deborah Davis, and staring  Emilia Schüle and British actor Louis Cunningham, airs on Canal+ on February 17, 2025, and on PBS on March 23, 2025.  Promised soon on the BBC.

Dumas - "Black Devil" (film)

 French director Helmer Ladj Ly is to write and direct a new film Dumas: Black  Devil.

Art Institute of Chicago acquires Horvitz collection

Art Institute of Chicago announces the gift of the Horvitz Collection of French Old Master paintings and drawings, the subject of a recent exhibition.

Fashion victims (Video)

The National Arts Club in New York presents a talk by Dr. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, author of Fashion Victims: Dress at the Court of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette (2015).  

Fifty years of the "Voltaire Room"

This January the Voltaire Foundation blog marks the 50-year anniversary  of the "Voltaire Room", in the basement of the Taylor Institution in Oxford, which houses the collection of 18th-century books bequeathed by Theodore Besterman.