Louis-Nicolas Ménard
Encyclopedia
Louis-Nicolas Ménard was a French
man of letters also known for his early discoveries on collodion
.
He was born in Paris
. His versatile genius occupied itself in turn with chemistry
, poetry
, painting
and history
. In 1843 he published, under the pseudonym of L. de Senneville, a translation of Promethee delivri. Turning to chemistry, he discovered collodion
in 1846, but its value was not recognized at the time; and its application later to surgery and photography brought him no advantage.
Ménard was a socialist, always in advance of the reform movements of his time. After 1848 he was condemned to imprisonment for his Prologue d'une révolution. He escaped to London
, returning to Paris only in 1852. Until 1860 he occupied himself with classical studies, the fruits of which are to be seen in his Poèmes (1855), Polythéisme hellénique (1863), and two academic theses, De sacra poesi graecorum and La Morale avant les philosophes (1860).
The next ten years Menard spent chiefly among the Barbizon
artists, and he exhibited several pictures. He was in London at the time of the Paris Commune
, and defended it with his pen. In 1887 he became professor at the École des Arts décoratifs, and in 1895 professor of universal history at the Hôtel de Ville
in Paris. His Rêveries d'un paien mystique (1876), which contained sonnets, philosophical dialogues and some stories, was followed in 1896 by Poèmes et rêveries d'un paien mystique. Ménard died in Paris on the 9th of February 1901.
His works include: Histoire des anciens peuples de l'Orient (1882); Histoire des Israelites d'apres l'exégèse biblique (1883), and Histoire des Grecs (1884-1886). There is an appreciation of Ménard in the opening chapter of Maurice Barrès
's Voyage de Sparte.
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...
man of letters also known for his early discoveries on collodion
Collodion
Collodion is a flammable, syrupy solution of pyroxylin in ether and alcohol. There are two basic types; flexible and non-flexible. The flexible type is often used as a surgical dressing or to hold dressings in place. When painted on the skin, collodion dries to form a flexible cellulose film...
.
He was born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. His versatile genius occupied itself in turn with chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. In 1843 he published, under the pseudonym of L. de Senneville, a translation of Promethee delivri. Turning to chemistry, he discovered collodion
Collodion
Collodion is a flammable, syrupy solution of pyroxylin in ether and alcohol. There are two basic types; flexible and non-flexible. The flexible type is often used as a surgical dressing or to hold dressings in place. When painted on the skin, collodion dries to form a flexible cellulose film...
in 1846, but its value was not recognized at the time; and its application later to surgery and photography brought him no advantage.
Ménard was a socialist, always in advance of the reform movements of his time. After 1848 he was condemned to imprisonment for his Prologue d'une révolution. He escaped to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, returning to Paris only in 1852. Until 1860 he occupied himself with classical studies, the fruits of which are to be seen in his Poèmes (1855), Polythéisme hellénique (1863), and two academic theses, De sacra poesi graecorum and La Morale avant les philosophes (1860).
The next ten years Menard spent chiefly among the Barbizon
Barbizon school
The Barbizon school of painters were part of a movement towards realism in art, which arose in the context of the dominant Romantic Movement of the time. The Barbizon school was active roughly from 1830 through 1870...
artists, and he exhibited several pictures. He was in London at the time of the Paris Commune
Paris Commune
The Paris Commune was a government that briefly ruled Paris from March 18 to May 28, 1871. It existed before the split between anarchists and Marxists had taken place, and it is hailed by both groups as the first assumption of power by the working class during the Industrial Revolution...
, and defended it with his pen. In 1887 he became professor at the École des Arts décoratifs, and in 1895 professor of universal history at the Hôtel de Ville
Hôtel de Ville, Paris
The Hôtel de Ville |City Hall]]) in :Paris, France, is the building housing the City of Paris's administration. Standing on the place de l'Hôtel de Ville in the city's IVe arrondissement, it has been the location of the municipality of Paris since 1357...
in Paris. His Rêveries d'un paien mystique (1876), which contained sonnets, philosophical dialogues and some stories, was followed in 1896 by Poèmes et rêveries d'un paien mystique. Ménard died in Paris on the 9th of February 1901.
His works include: Histoire des anciens peuples de l'Orient (1882); Histoire des Israelites d'apres l'exégèse biblique (1883), and Histoire des Grecs (1884-1886). There is an appreciation of Ménard in the opening chapter of Maurice Barrès
Maurice Barrès
Maurice Barrès was a French novelist, journalist, and socialist politician and agitator known for his nationalist and antisemitic views....
's Voyage de Sparte.