JACK-SAINT DENIS-Art and History museum
Jack
an ancient Carmel, ancient home to Louise de France, daughter Louis XV.
The buildings where the museum is houses today were built in 1785, the
Carmel is just next door. Open every day from 10.00 to 17.30 except on
Tuesday, festive days. Sunday from 14.30 to 18.30
What is so important about this museum? It houses the archaeological
remains of excavations in Saint-Denis, a superb pharmacy and a unique
collection about the Paris period called "La Commune".
The Hotel Dieu was demolished in 1907 and all its contents were
transferred to the actual museum: paintings, sculptures, furnishing,
wrought iron work, documents and more. (tableaux, sculptures, meubles,
étains, mortiers, ferronneries et documents évocateurs de la condition
hospitalière d'Ancien Régime). In the ancient dining room and kitchen:
the archaeological finds. Trying to separate legend, myths from
reality, here are vestiges of a Merovingian necropolis and a small-
scale model of Saint-Denis in the 16th century. Now comes a stunning
defile of Dionysian ceramics with explanations about materials,
functions, technique and evolution up to the 14th century. The old
pharmacy stayed like it was in the 17th: beautiful ceramic pots, really
one of the most beautiful ensembles of pharmaceutical ceramics in
France, coming from Rouen, Nevers and Saint-Cloud, old scales and
superb original woodwork
First floor: Sacred Art. Liturgical ornaments, documents describing the
life of the Carmelites of Saint-Denis, reconstitution of Louise de
France's cell, gives the whole a serene ambience of contemplative
meditation. On display are authentic master pieces like a Flemish
triptych (XVI the century), or French works, all describing monastery
life, like " La Madeleine au pied de la Croix " by Laurent de la Hyre
(XVII century) or the painting " Saint Augustin offrant son coeur à
L'Enfant Jésus " by François Perrier (17th)).
Second floor, the history of the Commune de Paris". At the end (1871)
of the Franco-Prussian War. The commune opposed the national government
led by Adolphe Thiers at Versailles as too conservative and ready to
accept humiliating peace terms. Versailles troops laid siege to Paris,
against which the communards (whose aims included economic reforms and
whose members comprised radical republicans, socialists, anarchists,
and Marxists) put up a desperate defence. Before their defeat (May 28)
they shot hostages and burned the Tuileries and the palace of justice.
Severe reprisals followed, with more than 17,000 people executed, a
repression that lastingly embittered French political life.
On this floor are presented a considerable collection about the
Commune. The visitor discovers the dense history of these 172 days of
battle, fights, hopes and despair, followed by the violence of the
repression. Works from Girardet, Manet and Steinlen.
The " fonds Paul Eluard " is located in the Louis WV pavilion, for the
100th anniversary of his birth (14 December 1995). This poet, known for
his drastic engagements for freedom, liberties and rights, his
surrealistic poetry, his friendships and loves was a great man and his
work is presented here: numerous manuscripts, original editions (with
the Liberty by Fernand Leger), photography, drawings and personal
objects. He married his greatest love, Dominique, and received a case
from and by Picasso as a wedding present.
Bibliography
"From admirable tabernacle to the House of God : some theological
reflections on medieval architectural integration. Artistic integration
in gothic buildings", by B.McGinn(1995) London University Press, "
Racines et patrimoine : la banlieue nord de Paris : gestion, sauvegarde
et conservation" by Paula Lieber Gerson, "Scenes de la vie conjugale :
Saint-Denis, Musee d'art et d'histoire ... 18 novembre 1988-31 mars
1989" By Honoré Daumier,"Découvrir la Seine-Saint-Denis"
by Guy Martignon, "Paysages de Saint-Denis" by Anne Lombard-Jourdan.
Jack
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