Adolphe-André Porée
Encyclopedia
Adolphe-André Porée, known as Chanoine Porée (14 March 1848, Bernay
– 28 February 1939, Saint-Aubin-d'Écrosville
), was a French archaeologist and historian
.
Originally from Beaumont-en-Auge
, his father, Adolphe Porée, ran a dyeing factory in Bernay. A very religious individual, Porée embraced the priesthood at the age of twenty-three. In 1871, he became the curé of the collegiate church of Les Andelys
. In 1875, he became the curé of Bournainville-Faverolles
where he remained fifty-three years. Porée spent his nights studying archeology, with particular attention paid to the churches of Eure
sold during the First Empire
, local notables and the impact of the French Revolution
.
Porée, who also was the diocesan archivist, undertook, from 1890 to 1892, an archaeological expedition through France
, Belgium
, Germany
, Switzerland
and Italy
.
In 1882, he discovered, along with the abbé de La Balle and Gaston Le Breton a lost statue by Pierre Puget on the old La Londe castle grounds at Biéville-Beuville
. This statue of Hercules slaying the Hydra of Lerna, which was originally in the castle of Vaudreuil, is now at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen
.
A disciple of Auguste Le Prévost
and Leopold Delisle, he was the director of the Society of Antiquaries of Normandy, a corresponding member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
and an Officer of Public Instruction. He was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1926.
Porée's Histoire de l'Abbaye du Bec is his magnum opus. Several streets were named after him, in Bec-Hellouin
, Bournainville-Faverolles, Pont-Audemer
and Bernay. In 1964, a plaque honoring his memory was erected in the cemetery of Bournainville. In 2000, a local former rectory (now the Town Hall) was converted into a Porée museum.
Bernay
- Communes :*Bernay, Eure, in the Eure département*Bernay-en-Champagne, in the Sarthe département*Bernay-en-Ponthieu, in the Somme département*Bernay-Saint-Martin, in the Charente-Maritime département...
– 28 February 1939, Saint-Aubin-d'Écrosville
Saint-Aubin-d'Écrosville
Saint-Aubin-d'Écrosville is a commune in the Eure department and Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
), was a French archaeologist and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
.
Originally from Beaumont-en-Auge
Beaumont-en-Auge
Beaumont-en-Auge is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France. The city hosts one of the last kaleidoscope manufacturers in France.-Population:-Personalities:...
, his father, Adolphe Porée, ran a dyeing factory in Bernay. A very religious individual, Porée embraced the priesthood at the age of twenty-three. In 1871, he became the curé of the collegiate church of Les Andelys
Les Andelys
Les Andelys is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Geography:It lies on the Seine, about 35 km northeast of Évreux.The commune is divided into two parts, Grand-Andely and Petit-Andely.-Population:-Sights:...
. In 1875, he became the curé of Bournainville-Faverolles
Bournainville-Faverolles
Bournainville-Faverolles is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
where he remained fifty-three years. Porée spent his nights studying archeology, with particular attention paid to the churches of Eure
Eure
Eure is a department in the north of France named after the river Eure.- History :Eure is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
sold during the First Empire
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
, local notables and the impact of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
Porée, who also was the diocesan archivist, undertook, from 1890 to 1892, an archaeological expedition through France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
In 1882, he discovered, along with the abbé de La Balle and Gaston Le Breton a lost statue by Pierre Puget on the old La Londe castle grounds at Biéville-Beuville
Biéville-Beuville
Biéville-Beuville is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
. This statue of Hercules slaying the Hydra of Lerna, which was originally in the castle of Vaudreuil, is now at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen
The musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen is an art museum in Rouen, northern France. Founded in 1801 by Napoleon I, its current building was built between 1880 and 1888 and completely renovated in 1994...
.
A disciple of Auguste Le Prévost
Auguste Le Prévost
Auguste Le Prévost was a French geologist, philologist, archaeologist and historian....
and Leopold Delisle, he was the director of the Society of Antiquaries of Normandy, a corresponding member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
The Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres is a French learned society devoted to the humanities, founded in February 1663 as one of the five academies of the Institut de France.-History:...
and an Officer of Public Instruction. He was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1926.
Porée's Histoire de l'Abbaye du Bec is his magnum opus. Several streets were named after him, in Bec-Hellouin
Le Bec-Hellouin
Le Bec-Hellouin is a commune in the department of Eure in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.It is best known for Bec Abbey and has recently been voted one of the "most beautiful villages of France".-History:...
, Bournainville-Faverolles, Pont-Audemer
Pont-Audemer
Pont-Audemer is a commune in the Eure department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Population:-Sights:The commune was spared substantial damage to its historic buildings during the Battle of Normandy. Nowadays the half-timbered buildings and the canals running between them are a...
and Bernay. In 1964, a plaque honoring his memory was erected in the cemetery of Bournainville. In 2000, a local former rectory (now the Town Hall) was converted into a Porée museum.
Sources
- Bulletin de la Société des antiquaires de Normandie, vol. 46-47, Société des antiquaires de Normandie, Caen, 1939, p. 15 passim.