Mazarin was
a great collector. He also created a personal library, more based on a wish for knowledge and the spreading of knowledge than for anything else. His first collection
was dispersed when he for a while had to leave Paris for political reasons
(“La Fronde”), but on his return he immediately began a second one – of course
helped by librarians. Already during his lifetime it was made available to
“public” (scholars) and at his death it was bequeathed to the “Collège des
Quatre-Nations” (College of the Four Nations), which he had wished to create.
The name referred to his desire to open a college for students from the
territories (the nations) which recently had come under French rule through the
Peace of Westphalia in 1648.
The college
(with Louis le Vau as architect) was built facing the Louvre. The construction
work started the year after Mazarin’s death, in 1662, and the building stood
ready in 1688. Before that, in 1682, the Mazarin library had been transferred
to the eastern wing of the building, using elements from his own library, in
addition to all the books and other items. A few years after the Revolution the building
was given to the “Institut de France”, grouping five academies, the most
well-known of course being the “Académie Française”. The library became really
public, the oldest public one in France. It contained already some 60 thousand
volumes (today ten times more), several thousands of the first printed books
(second half of the 15th century), including one of the 48 surviving
original Gutenberg Bibles.
So today,
the “Bibiliothèque Mazarine” is still there, open to public, and it still
occupies the eastern wing of the building, the rest being occupied by the
academies.
Mazarin’s
tomb is under the cupola of the building, originally a chapel, but today especially
known as the place where the Academies hold their public meetings.
On my way
to the library, I crossed the Louvre, a warm day, when some people were happy
to let their feet be freshened by the water in the basin, surrounding the
Pyramid. I stopped listening to some very talented musicians, including two
young opera singers.
Reaching the “Pont des Arts”, with the "Institut" and the library in the background, I could notice that there are more padlocks than ever.
Once in the
inside court, you have two facing facades, one being the “Institut de France”,
the other one the “Bibliotheca a Fundatore Mazarinea”.
Reaching the “Pont des Arts”, with the "Institut" and the library in the background, I could notice that there are more padlocks than ever.
The
entrance stairs, as they look today, were added during the 19th
century. You can find the bust of Mazarin.
You may
notice the pieces of green cloth, put there to protect against dust.
Some
“details” include a beautiful early 18th century clock, perfectly working, Over one of the doors, you can see the arms of the Cardinal, of course with the cardinal hat, the “galero” on top...
...and some nice golden ceiling lamps. The little angel holding a chess tower indicates that they once belonged to Madame de Pompadour.
...and some nice golden ceiling lamps. The little angel holding a chess tower indicates that they once belonged to Madame de Pompadour.
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