29.10.10

Molière

Molière (his real name was Jean-Baptiste Poquelin) died at the age of 51 in 1673. He did not die on stage, but a performance of “Le Malade Imaginaire” (The Imaginary Invalid) had to be interrupted as Molière collapsed (tuberculosis, hemorrhage). He was brought home and died a few hours later.

Actors were not well regarded by the Church those days and he was refused the last rites. The next problem was to get him buried. Finally, an exception was made and he got a grave in a part of a cemetery reserved for infants not yet baptized. Some 120 years later he was honoured with a transfer to the Museum of French Monuments (those days in the present Ecole des Beaux Arts, see previous post) and in 1817 he got a final grave at the then newly opened Père Lachaise cemetery (together with La Fontaine). This was also an act to promote this cemetery, considered to be too far away from the city centre.

The theatre where he made his last performance was called “Palais Royal”, being part of the palace, "Palais Royal". Most of Molière’s famous plays were performed here between 1662 and 1673. This theatre burnt down some hundred years later.

In the opposite corner of Palais Royal you can today find the national theatre, “Théâtre Français” or “Comédie Française”, from 1799.

There is another theatre in yet another corner of the present palace and gardens, which again has the name “Théâtre du Palais Royal”. Originally from 1790, rebuilt in 1830 and 1890, it’s a private – beautiful – theatre. (I have made a number of posts, here and here, on the palace and garden of Palais Royal.)
Coming back to Molière, his home, where he died, was quite close. The building is not there anymore but there is a plate on the wall of the present one… and more or less in front of it is a statue, erected in 1844, designed by Louis Visconti (who designed a number of buildings, fountains, statues in Paris … including the tomb of Napoléon I at the Invalides).
I wish you a nice weekend!

29 comments:

Mystica said...

Thank you for this post and a nice weekend to you as well.

Catherine said...

some fascinating details here - very interesting - what is the name of Moliere's town in the south - I have been there but cannot remember the name - Greetings from mexico..

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Thank you, Peter, for your informative post and as much as I like the photos, the map is quite valuable. You are a walking encyclopedia!

Bon weekend!
Genie

keekee said...

woww that's incredible..his burial especially..or series for that matter

ANGIE CARROLL said...

What a fascinating history Paris has! Thank you for that article -- and the photos! May I recommend Essential French Phrases for a first-time visit to France?

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

A very informative and nicely-presented blog! Good job!

Check out my life in Kuantan (a not-so-famous town), Malaysia at: www.duncaninkuantan.blogspot.com

Thanks.

umaxy said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjyC2nIETeY

Check this out!!!

Joseph : Phạm Minh Tâm said...

( I Love http://sachtroi.blogspot.com )

hpy said...

Salut.

Delphinium said...

Quoi??? tu manges dans des bouillons maintenant?? :-) et ce Poquelin, tiens, tu as vu, dans sa main droite, on dirait qu'il tient un cigare, c'est politiquement incorrect. On a demandé à Luky Lucke d'arrêter de fumer et alors, monsieur Poquelin, on continue à écrire dans des volutes de fumée?
C'est inadmissible!
Mais que font les grévistes? :-))

Louise said...

What a wonderful post Peter. When I was in Paris mid year we stayed quite near Moliere's statue, I walked past there quite a few times. So I felt nostalgic and fuzzy to see this post. Very informative too, thanks so much.

Ruth said...

This is very interesting information about Molière, things I did not know. It is such a nice thing to be able to walk the streets and see the places connected, imagining how it was in his day.

Love the Père Lachaise, but now I don't recall if I saw his grave.

Happy weekend, Peter!

Cezar and Léia said...

I'm always learning with your posts! MErci beaucoup! :)
Léia

BLOGitse said...

I like his hair! :)
Have a relaxing weekend!

Ash said...

Wonderful photos. Have a nice weekend Peter!

Ashleigh said...

Congrats on being named a blog of note!!! I love Paris and I just visited Scandinavia this summer on a cruise and wished we had more than just one day in Stockholm. I look forward to following your blog...Can't wait to get back to Paris! Looking forward to seeing your posts...

Elise Engh said...

I'm so glad I found your blog under "blogs of note" on blogger! I've always dreamed of going to France, since I have some French Heritage. Maybe it is not as romantic as I imagine it to be, but I love all the history that is there and would love to see it all one day. Thanks for letting me see it through your blog!

Zhang Chunhong said...

Comme d'habitude, je me sens plus intelligente après avoir lu ton blog!

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Thanks for this wonderful piece of history!

Do have a great weekend!

Trotter said...

Hi Peter! Jean Baptiste had a sad story... And the Hotel du Louvre was already there... ;)

Recovering from the flu and other viruses, Blogtrotter Two is waiting for you with views, palaces and gardens in Algiers... Enjoy and have a great weekend!

The Words Crafter said...

Hello, my name is Becky and I'm an American. I found your blog through Blogs of Note and I am very glad I did.

I may never get a chance to visit Paris, but your photos and historical accounts make me feel as if I'm there. Amazing. Beautiful. Thank you so much for taking the time to create this 'virtual' Paris. I may get lost here!

Have a wonderful weekend!

AA Toni's Books said...

Love reading your posts. Have a nice weekend

John said...

uau I didn't know any of this! thanks for sharing! you have a beautiful blog!

Paris Paul said...

Love the statue. How have I missed it after so many years?

YouTube Video Converter said...

good photos, thanks for the psuedo trip to paris :)

Starman said...

The world would be so much better if religion had never entered the picture.

Shionge said...

Hiya peter...can't see the pic at the moment, I'll be back again.

Virginia said...

Did you see his oversized chair on display at Place Colette last January?
V

Anonymous said...

its cool.haha