Exploring the Paris catacombs

This September researchers under the direction of medical anthropologist Philippe Charlier have been continuing a scientific exploration of the Paris catacombs begun in September of last year.

A diamond necklace

Sotheby's Geneva  have announced the auction in November of an 18th-century diamond necklace with a pre-sale estimate between $1.8 million and $2.8 million.  The piece is said to incorporate stones from Marie-Antoinette's infamous Diamond Necklace (and it is certainly monstrous enough to make this believable...)

Oudry's hunting scenes (Exhibition)

The exhibition "Jean-Baptiste Oudry and the Royal Hunts of Louis XV" takes place at the Château de Fontainebleau from 12th October 2024 to 27th January 2025.  

Heritage Days in Paris 2024

 The annual Journées du Patrimoine 2024 in Paris and the Ile-de-France take place on 21st and 22nd Museum - here is the schedule.

Year II at the Carnavalet (Exhibition)

The exhibition "Paris 1794-1794: a Revolutionary year" opens at the Musée Carnavalet on 16th October.

Louis XVI before his judges (book)

Olivier Bétourné's new book La Mort du Roi Louis XVI devant ses juges et face à l'Histoire is published on 13th September.

Next year at the V&A: Marie-Antoinette

 The V&A has announced a exhibition for 2025 on Maria Antoinette and her contribution to design and fashion.

Watteau - to be saved for the nation?

A temporary export ban has been placed on Watteau's Le Rêve de L’Artiste, a painting once owned by Sir Robert Walpole. The sum required to keep it in the UK is £6,075,000 (plus VAT of £215,020!)

The Flood - new film

 A new film on the end of the French monarchy, "The Flood" ("Le Deluge")  by Italian director Gianluca Jodice, opened the  Locarno Film Festival in Milan, on 7th August. 

David Andress - Videos & podcasts

The BBC's History Extra podcast and YouTube channel has published a short discussion of the guillotine by David Andress (Video of 18th July 2024).

A Rameau opera reborn

The lost opera “Samson" by Rameau, with libretto by Voltaire, has been recreated by conductor Raphaël Pichon and director Claus Guth and was performed at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in July (video below)

Olympic reflections

In an online article in the August edition of Rare Book Monthly, Thibault Ehrengard comments on the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games and what it revealed about France's complex relationship with the Revolutionary past.