Rascas de Bagarris
Encyclopedia
Pierre-Antoine Rascas, sieur de Bagarris et du Bourguet (Aix-en-Provence
, 15 February 1562 — Aix-en-Provence 14 April 1620), an advocate at the Parlement of Aix
, was a founder of the science of historical numismatics
and one of the most notable antiquaries of his time. Henri IV
recognized his value, and placed him in charge of the royal collection of medals and antiquities kept at Fontainebleau
, which formed one of the nuclei of the royal Cabinet des Médailles
, now a department of the Bibliothèque nationale de France
. Rascas de Bagarris, as he is known, augmented the royal collection from his own. He had the idea of assembling a collection of antique coins that would form an illustrated gallery of the sovereigns of Classical antiquity
, as an informative work of curiosity. In 1611 he advised Henri IV to renew the tradition of Antiquity by issuing fine medals to celebrate public and private events of his reign, a propaganda program that was adopted with some consistency by Louis XIV
. His request of 10 January 1613, when he was the intendant des Médailles et Antiques du roy, for permission to make coin-medals (monnaies-médailles) of copper to the nominal value of six deniers was forwarded to the Cour des Monnaies
. A similar request was dated 30 January 1616. Rascas de Bagarris had broader responsibilities: he drew up the earliest surviving inventory of the royal collection of paintings, ca 1625.
After the assassination of Henry, Rascas de Bagarris returned to Aix with the honorific title of conseiller du roi, intendant des mers atlantiques ("King's counsellor, superintendent of the Atlantic seas
"). He served as primicier of the University of Aix.
His protegé Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc
, likewise attached to the Parlement of Aix, received from Rascas de Bagarris his training in the connoisseurship of antiquities and of coins and medals. (Alphéran)
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
, 15 February 1562 — Aix-en-Provence 14 April 1620), an advocate at the Parlement of Aix
Parlement
Parlements were regional legislative bodies in Ancien Régime France.The political institutions of the Parlement in Ancien Régime France developed out of the previous council of the king, the Conseil du roi or curia regis, and consequently had ancient and customary rights of consultation and...
, was a founder of the science of historical numismatics
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
and one of the most notable antiquaries of his time. Henri IV
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
recognized his value, and placed him in charge of the royal collection of medals and antiquities kept at Fontainebleau
Château de Fontainebleau
The Palace of Fontainebleau, located 55 kilometres from the centre of Paris, is one of the largest French royal châteaux. The palace as it is today is the work of many French monarchs, building on an early 16th century structure of Francis I. The building is arranged around a series of courtyards...
, which formed one of the nuclei of the royal Cabinet des Médailles
Cabinet des Médailles
The Cabinet des Médailles, more formally known as Département des Monnaies, Médailles et Antiques de la Bibliothèque nationale de France, is a department of the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris, France, housed in its former premises in Rue de Richelieu.The Cabinet des Médailles is a museum...
, now a department of the Bibliothèque nationale de France
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
. Rascas de Bagarris, as he is known, augmented the royal collection from his own. He had the idea of assembling a collection of antique coins that would form an illustrated gallery of the sovereigns of Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
, as an informative work of curiosity. In 1611 he advised Henri IV to renew the tradition of Antiquity by issuing fine medals to celebrate public and private events of his reign, a propaganda program that was adopted with some consistency by Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
. His request of 10 January 1613, when he was the intendant des Médailles et Antiques du roy, for permission to make coin-medals (monnaies-médailles) of copper to the nominal value of six deniers was forwarded to the Cour des Monnaies
Cour des monnaies
The Cour des monnaies was one of the sovereign courts of Ancien Régime France. It was set up in 1552. It and the other Ancien Régime tribunals were suppressed in 1791 after the French Revolution.- Origins :...
. A similar request was dated 30 January 1616. Rascas de Bagarris had broader responsibilities: he drew up the earliest surviving inventory of the royal collection of paintings, ca 1625.
After the assassination of Henry, Rascas de Bagarris returned to Aix with the honorific title of conseiller du roi, intendant des mers atlantiques ("King's counsellor, superintendent of the Atlantic seas
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
"). He served as primicier of the University of Aix.
His protegé Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc
Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc
Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc was a French astronomer, antiquary and savant who maintained a wide correspondence with scientists and was a successful organizer of scientific inquiry...
, likewise attached to the Parlement of Aix, received from Rascas de Bagarris his training in the connoisseurship of antiquities and of coins and medals. (Alphéran)