[Born at Chalons-sur-Saone, in France, 1747. Died in Paris, 1825. Aged
78.]
Brought up to the law, he neglected his profession for the fine arts.
Found favour with Louis XV. and his successor. Fulfilled several
diplomatic appointments with great success. In 1787, became a member of
the Academy of Painters. Employed by Robespierre to design the new
republican official costumes. Accompanied the French expedition to
Egypt; of which one result was his interesting and magnificent work,
published at the public expense, “Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt,
during the campaigns of General Buonaparte.” This work first brought the
wonderful remains of ancient Egyptian art distinctly before our eyes.
Subsequently appointed, by Napoleon, Director-General of Museums, and
mainly organized in Paris the admirable collection which for a time
constituted the richest treasury of art ever known in Europe. At the
Restoration, Denon lost his office, and devoted his leisure to the
arrangement of his own museum. He was an ardent lover of the fine arts,
possessed an elegant taste and liberal mind.
[From the marble in the Louvre, by M. Marin. 1827.]
252*. CLAUDE LOUIS BERTHOLLET. _Chemist._
[Born at Talloire, in Savoy, 1748. Died at Arcueil, in France, 1822.
Aged 74.]
After studying at Turin, went to Paris. There elected a member of the
Academy of Sciences, and Professor of Chemistry to the Normal and
Polytechnic Schools. During the first wars of the Revolution employed in
making gunpowder, and converting iron into steel. With Monge, the
geometrician, accompanied the French army to Italy and Egypt in order to
direct the removal of the plundered works of art. The friendship of
these two philosophers, their calmness in pursuing science amidst
danger, their courage and kindness to the soldiers, won for them the
admiration of the whole army. Berthollet discovered the bleaching
properties of chlorine, and the art of fixing the colour of dyes. Also
assisted in the establishment of a new chemical nomenclature. Generous,
disinterested, heroic; and his modesty equal to his merit.
[Bust to come.]