On this day in 1802, French Romantic poet, novelist, artist and activist, Victor Hugo, was born in Besançon, Eastern France (near the Swiss border, about 230 miles from Paris). He is considered amongst France's greatest writers—indeed, having a profound influence upon world literature. His masterwork, Les Misérables, is the enduring story of love, justice, grace, morality and redemption. On the day the novel was published in 1862, Hugo was away on vacation. He sent a one-symbol telegram to his publisher: "?". The publisher's one-symbol response: "!". The book was—and remains—a success.
In addition to his many writings (including The Hunchback of Notre-Dame), Hugo was a committed abolitionist, republican, and anti-capital punishment activist. He deeply embraced the French ideal of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité. Hugo was elected to the Académie française which is responsible for codifying and protecting the French language. In 1848, he was elected to the Assemblée nationale as a Conservative—although he soon fell-out with his party when he made a speech calling for the end of misery and poverty.
Hugo also took comfort in drawing, especially in his later years. He produced over 4,000 sketches and ink-wash paintings, 3,000 of which still remain.
Hugo left instructions for a pauper's funeral. Instead, when he died of pneumonia on 22 May 1885, the nation honored him with a state funeral. 2,000,000 mourners processed from l'Arc de Triomphe to the Panthéon where he now rests with writers Alexandre Dumas and Émile Zola. Elsewhere, nearby, lie Voltaire, Rousseau, Marie Curie, even Josephine Baker.
The pair of hand-colored French wood engravings were printed in the Nineteenth Century (c. 1881), although they depict Seventeenth Century views of the Palais du Louvre—seen along the bank of the River Seine. Originally drawn by François-Auguste Trichon (1814-1898), they were engraved in wood by Ferdinand Delannoy (1822-1887). Click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome pair of prints.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.