At the Legion of Honor Museum, the history of France through the fate of decorated

Faced with the Musée d’Orsay, in the center of Paris, another monumental building with the appearance of a neoclassical temple is available to visitors: it is the Museum of the Legion of Honor which celebrates its hundred years this year. The order was created in 1802 by Bonaparte, while the chivalry orders of the Old Regime had been suppressed during the Revolution. “Before the Revolution, orders rewarded loyalty to the king. From now on, they recognize the merit of the individual towards his homeland, ”specifies Tom Dutheil, assistant curator of the museum.

Around its permanent collections, an exhibition, a hundred years of honor, returns to the highlights of the history of this place and the interest of its collections: “Our museum is rich in rare decorations,” explains Tom Dutheil, also an exhibition commissioner. These tell the story of an individual and, through him, an episode in the history of France.

In addition, these are works of art that speak of jewelry techniques, the taste of an era. ” Like this cross of diamonds and emeralds of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor of General Jean Boudet (1769-1809), “the only one known for having belonged to a Napoleon officer,” he adds. It highlights a forgotten figure of the Napoleonic epic which was distinguished in particular at the battles of Marengo (1800) and Aspern (1809).

Civilians and women also have their place

The route then retraces, thanks to documents and photographs, the premises of the museum, first simple showcase at the exhibition of the decorative arts of 1911, then in the form of a room in the offices of the institution. “After the First World War, the project finally led, thanks to the energy of General Dubail, then a great chancellor of the Legion of Honor,” says Tom Dutheil, presenting a showcase where his countless decorations were brought together.

Some very expressive portraits of soldiers, crunched in the pastel by the talented Eugène Burnand (1850-1921), and extracted from a collection of 88 works by this artist belonging to the museum, recall that there are men behind these honors. Because the exhibition intends above all to restore their destiny. This is why the last room presents some of them which, to very diverse titles, have entered order.

Neither civilians nor women are forgotten: animal painter Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899) decorated by Empress Eugenie in person and first woman to be; Rémy and Loïc DESMONTS, carpenters of Notre-Dame who have just been decorated for having cut the new frame of the cathedral according to medieval techniques; or Simone Veil (1927-2017), former minister, behind the voluntary pregnancy interruption law, and president of the European Parliament.