Alexandre Lenoir and the Musee des monuments francais during the French Revolution
Christopher Greene
Little is left today of the work to which Alexandre Lenoir devoted twenty-six years his life, Musee des monuments francais. Nevertheless, visitors Ecole Beaux-arts in Paris will see, on entering first courtyard, a section facade chatteau Anet attached wall at right, and until recently three bays Gaillon formed screen between this courtyard cour d'honneur front main school building. The walls court itself are encrusted with bits sculpture, other pieces could, least few ago, be found rather ragged garden, lying forlornly grass. These are, or were, remnants what seems have been Revolution's most popular cultural institution, reasons for its popularity important an understanding effects Revolution French mentality. museum received little serious attention from students history arts, though these sometimes referred them passing, often tones disparagement. frequently dismissed as attraction without artistic organization merit, critics claimed that many exhibits were denatured by careless deceptive reconstruction restoration. himself criticized having dating attribution, practiced outright deceit, more interested attracting crowds than preservation art. He accused ignorant art, even uninterested it, caused great destruction through plundering France's
French Historical Studies