Alexandre Du Sommerard (31 August 1779, in Bar-sur-Aube – 19 August 1842, in Paris) was a French archaeologist and art collector.
Frédéric Millet [fr], portrait of Alexandre du Sommerard, 1827, Musée de Cluny.
Lifeedit
He volunteered for the army at 14 and took part in the French Revolutionary Wars. Returning to civil life, he became attached to the Cour des comptes, at first as a référendaire, then as a conseiller-maître, spending all his leisure time and most of his modest fortune on collecting, classifying and publishing a collection of medieval and Renaissance art objects.
Each day, his cabinet of furniture, vases and utensils of all kinds which he saved from their destroyers, since for a long while he was almost the only person in Paris collecting these curiosities that were later so much studied. Little by little he gained imitators and, always ready to reply to questions of taste and even enquiries from the indiscrete curious, Du Sommerard welcomed people to see his collection and gave lessons in practical archaeology.
The hôtel de Cluny, a Gothic palace built in the late 15th century by Jacques d'Amboise and the only surviving medieval palace in Paris, owes its survival to Du Sommerard. He took it over as a home and as a place to house his collection. On his death the Musée d'antiquités nationales that he created was acquired by the French state and his son, Edmond was chosen to be its first curator. The Rue des Mathurins was renamed Rue du Sommerard in his honour.
Worksedit
Vues de Provins, dessinées et lithographiées, en 1822, par plusieurs artistes, avec un texte par M. D., Paris: chez Gide, 1822.
"Notice Nécrologique sur M. Xavier Leprince, Peintre de genre, mort à Nice le 26 décembre 1826", Journal des artistes, 28 January 1827, pp. 56–58.
Notices sur l'hôtel de Cluny et le palais des Thermes, 1834.
Les Arts au Moyen Âge, folio and 5 volumes of text, 1842–1846; a large work on medieval art, the summation of his travels, long studies, and wide reading, which he worked on until his death.
Sourcesedit
Prosper Mérimée, Notice sur la vie et les travaux d'Alexandre Du Sommerard, Fondateur des collections de l'Hôtel de Cluny, Paris, Hôtel de Cluny, 1883.
External linksedit
Media related to Alexandre Du Sommerard at Wikimedia Commons
December 02, 2023
alexandre, sommerard, august, 1779, aube, august, 1842, paris, french, archaeologist, collector, frédéric, millet, portrait, alexandre, sommerard, 1827, musée, cluny, life, edithe, volunteered, army, took, part, french, revolutionary, wars, returning, civil, l. Alexandre Du Sommerard 31 August 1779 in Bar sur Aube 19 August 1842 in Paris was a French archaeologist and art collector Frederic Millet fr portrait of Alexandre du Sommerard 1827 Musee de Cluny Life editHe volunteered for the army at 14 and took part in the French Revolutionary Wars Returning to civil life he became attached to the Cour des comptes at first as a referendaire then as a conseiller maitre spending all his leisure time and most of his modest fortune on collecting classifying and publishing a collection of medieval and Renaissance art objects Each day his cabinet of furniture vases and utensils of all kinds which he saved from their destroyers since for a long while he was almost the only person in Paris collecting these curiosities that were later so much studied Little by little he gained imitators and always ready to reply to questions of taste and even enquiries from the indiscrete curious Du Sommerard welcomed people to see his collection and gave lessons in practical archaeology The hotel de Cluny a Gothic palace built in the late 15th century by Jacques d Amboise and the only surviving medieval palace in Paris owes its survival to Du Sommerard He took it over as a home and as a place to house his collection On his death the Musee d antiquites nationales that he created was acquired by the French state and his son Edmond was chosen to be its first curator The Rue des Mathurins was renamed Rue du Sommerard in his honour Works editVues de Provins dessinees et lithographiees en 1822 par plusieurs artistes avec un texte par M D Paris chez Gide 1822 Notice Necrologique sur M Xavier Leprince Peintre de genre mort a Nice le 26 decembre 1826 Journal des artistes 28 January 1827 pp 56 58 Notices sur l hotel de Cluny et le palais des Thermes 1834 Les Arts au Moyen Age folio and 5 volumes of text 1842 1846 a large work on medieval art the summation of his travels long studies and wide reading which he worked on until his death Sources editProsper Merimee Notice sur la vie et les travaux d Alexandre Du Sommerard Fondateur des collections de l Hotel de Cluny Paris Hotel de Cluny 1883 External links edit nbsp Media related to Alexandre Du Sommerard at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexandre Du Sommerard amp oldid 1084732127, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
