Oh this is and always will be a sentimental city for me, my first in France really spent time in it. I am thrill to tell you it is my dear city of Meaux and a place never missed when around the area of Seine et Marne dept 77 of the Île de France region of my belle France. I have written several posts , but this is new text and pictures from this week trip. Therefore, let me tell you about my sentimental Meaux ,again, Always in my mind wherever I will be in our world!!!! This is another rendition of the Musée Bossuet of Meaux, part II !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
I have touch base with many of its monuments and attractions and even written posts on them, but these are new pictures on a new visit, again, this is my Meaux !!! Let me tell you about the Bossuet Museum !!!
The Bossuet Museum has a collection of paintings which begins in the 16C with a magnificent Lamentation of Christ by Frans Florisn continues in the 17C with the works of the Meldois Jean Senelle, a beautiful Adoration of the Magi by the Le Nain Brothers, a dramatic Christmas Crucifixion by Coypel or a charming Birth of Jupiter by Bon Boullogne At the end of the 17C, the mythological scenes of Jean-François de Troy or François Verdier were pretexts for beautiful body compositions. In the 18C, lighter religious painting was represented by an elegant Saint Sebastian by Charles Antoine Coypel or a gallant David and Bathsheba by Carle Van Loo. The memory of Bossuet, the famous bishop of Meaux, is evoked by his portraits of Pierre Mignard , and Hyacinthe Rigaud. In the 19C, on the contrary, it was the landscape which dominated with the works of the Barbizon school, two paintings by Charles François Daubigny or an orientalist set illustrated by Jean Léon Gérôme ,and Alexandre Gabriel Decamps. Among the genre scenes, the Woman Carrying a Basket by Jean-François Millet stands out. A 20C room has been set up to present portraits of Briard peasants created by the sculptor Paul Niclausse and landscapes painted by local painters such as André Hébuterne. Finally, decorative art is represented by some beautiful pieces of Louis XV and Louis XVI style furniture from the former collection of the bishops of Meaux.
Some remarkable works from the collection are the Nantouillet Shrine which contained the relics of Saints Cosme and Damien, Saint Catherine, Saint George and Saint Mary Magdalene. Also, Ogier’s head, an architecture in the form of a portal where two recumbent figures rest. These characters were identified as Benoit and Ogier known as “the Dane”, lord following Charlemagne and his squire Benoît. Also, the Lamentation of Christ by Frans Florisn a spiral composition given by the pearly white color of the faces of John, Mary, Mary Magdalene, the body of Christ to continue with humanity represented by the Holy Women , Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. The painful faces, the Virgin in swoon, the human tenderness in the gestures of those close to Christ and the dignity in the gestures of affliction of humanity give this painting gravity and emotion. It is one of the great religious paintings of the Renaissance, with moving sincerity. There is a Chest of drawers by Charles Cressent ,in satin wood and amaranth, this chest of drawers is recognizable above all by its gilded bronzes, called “à l’Espagnette” at the corners, in the form of women’s heads with lace headdresses, which seem to come from the universe of Antoine Watteau. Very beautiful figures of fauns, decorated with foliage, are visible on the apron and the profiles of the furniture. The rhythm of this piece of furniture is a special crossbow arch in the Regency style. Note the feet decorated with lion paws. The Morello cherry marble from Italy perfectly matches the contour of the apron. This chest of drawers was probably made around 1725.
There is an ongoing temporary exhibition entitled the « History of printing in Pays de Meaux in the 16C to the 20C ; until January 28, 2024 From the 17C or Charles Le Blondel in the 19C, the exhibition will present some of their major achievements which have come down to us. The exhibition will also raise public awareness of the different techniques originating from or resulting from printing as well as the artistic crafts derived from this field such as those of stationery, engraving, lithography or bookbinding. Demonstrations of these different techniques as well as a rich program will be offered to you alongside the exhibition to promote these know-how.
The apothecary of the Hôtel-Dieu of Meaux was inaugurated on August 9, 1719, due to the efforts of Cardinal Henri-Pons de Thiard de Bissy , bishop of Meaux from 1704 to 1737. It included a laboratory where remedies were developed and a storage and exhibition warehouse from which the pots currently exhibited at the Bossuet museum in the room dedicated to the apothecary came from. For the most part, these containers are made of earthenware from the Paris region, with blue decoration of knotted branches and flower buds. Three types of pots are common for storing remedies: the cano pot, cylindrical, is intended to receive electuaries (powders mixed with syrup), ointments or ointments, the chevrette, ovoid, equipped with a vertical handle and a neck, to store syrups, oils and mellites, and the bottle intended to receive water or infusions.
The official musée Bossuet of Meaux : https://www.musee-bossuet.fr/
The city of Meaux on the Bossuet Museum: https://www.ville-meaux.fr/ma-ville-et-actualites/culture/musees/musee-bossuet
The Seine et Marne dept 77 tourist office on the Bossuet Museum : https://www.seineetmarnevivreengrand.fr/explorer/musee-bossuet-728886/
There you go folks, always memorable moments that stayed with you no matter what, time does not diminished the sadness of not having my dear late wife Martine who introduce me to this historical city, Meaux. Also,a great inexpensive alternative to Disneyland only about 20 minutes away by car. Do see my other posts on Meaux. I will always remember Meaux, and Seine et Marne dept 77, Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Musée Bossuet of Meaux, part II !!! as I,
And remember, happy travels, good health, andn many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 