The Summer Of Love 1814
Click Adam Dant & Jean-Baptiste Marot’s map to spot Prince Charles, The Beatles, Jane Birkin, Barbara Cartland, Georges Meliès, Marcel Proust, The Montgolfier Brothers, Pepé le Pew, Gerard Depardieu, Marcel Marceau, Béccasine, Serge Gainsbourg, Catherine Deneuve, José Bové, Brigitte Bardot, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Ubu Roi & Femen
In the Centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, Sir John Soane’s Museum celebrates the Bicentenary of the end of the Napoleonic Wars between Britain and France with an exhibition entitled Peace Breaks Out! which opens today.
Complementing the show, the Museum asked me to introduce them to some of the artists of Spitalfields Life, who have created new works to be shown alongside the historic artefacts and today I am publishing some of these creations with a few original items that inspired them.
Cartographer extraordinaire Adam Dant collaborated with his Gallic counterpart Jean-Baptiste Marot on a map in which each portrays the other’s culture. Alice Pattullo & Laura Knight have created prints inspired by objects in the exhibition, while Paul Bommer has made a series of themed Delft tiles. Romilly Saumarez Smith & Lucy Gledhill working as Savage & Chong are showing their jewellery and Bridie Hall is making a selection of decoupage using images from the show.
The English Family in Paris, Anon c. 1814
The English Family at the Museum in Paris, Anon c.1814
An Englishwoman tears her husband away from the attractions of Paris, Anon c.1818
The Englishman arrives in France, Godisart de Cari c.1814/5
The Englishman returns from France, Godisart de Cari c.1814/5
Frenchwoman after a meal in England, Anon c.1814
Frenchman after a meal in England, Anon c. 1814
Screenprint by Alice Pattullo, 2014 – “Many of the items in this exhibition are souvenirs celebrating the peace brought about at the end of the War. I thought it would be interesting to record these as a print, which in itself can become a souvenir of this exhibition, and commemorate the stylistic influences that crossed the newly-reopened channel from Paris.”
Peace of Paris jug, Bristol Pottery 1814
Mourning ring with lock of Napoleon’s hair presented to John Soane, 1822
Inscription on the ring by Elizabeth Balcombe who presented the ring to Soane
Plate from a Peace of Paris teaset, Coalport Pottery 1814
Brisé Opera Fan with a panel representing Peace, c. 1814 – made in China for European market
Purse given to Pugilist Gentleman John Jackson for sparring for the Emperor of Russia, 1814
Commemorative cup, transferware c. 1814
Screenprint by Laura Knight, 2014 – “The Napoleonic period is a huge subject of which I have only touched the surface,but the uniforms stood out immediately for me as highly decorative,theatrical and impractical,reflecting the many ways in which these wars were choreographed,staged and played out.”
Pages from Laura Knight’s sketchbook, 2014
Medal for the disbanding of the Bethnal Green Volunteers, 1814
John Fairburn’s illustration of the Grand National Jubilee, 1814
John Fairburn’s illustration of the Pagoda at the Grand National Jubilee, 1814
John Fairburn’s illustration of Sadler’s Balloon Ascent at the Grand National Jubilee, 1814
John Fairburn’s illustration of the Royal Booth at the Grand National Jubilee, 1814
John Fairburn’s illustration of the sham fight on the Serpentine at the Grand National Jubilee, 1814
John Fairburn’s illustration of the sea battle on the Serpentine at the Grand National Jubilee, 1814
Jubilee Trunk made in Hyde Park during the fair, 1814
View of the Excise Office as illuminated on 9th, 10th & 11th June 1814
Card by Laura Knight, 2014
PEACE BREAKS OUT! runs at Sir John Soane’s Museum, Lincoln’s Inn Fields from today until 13th September
You may also like to read about
Adam Dant’s Map of the Coffee Houses
LURVE Adam Dant’s poster.
Of, course, to be polite, we won’t mention the “Hundred Days, riht now, shall we?
Another hugely informative post – thank you so much!
Marvellous and very sharp persiflages on England and France (the eating habits of the frogs….!!) — but very regrettably the Englishmen are OUT of the World Cup and the French are still IN there…! 🙁
Love & Peace
ACHIM
Excellent blog. I am looking forward to seeing this exhibition. I think the new artworks are very good, particularly the one by Alice Patullo.
I hardly dare ask but what is the Englishman on the right in the print of them visiting the Museum doing? His pose begs all sorts of questions.