The Library will be CLOSED on Thursday, October 31, 2024 for a staff event.
We will open on Friday, November 1 at 10:00 AM.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Open today 4 PM - 11 PM
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Open today 4 PM - 11 PM
Digital Exhibitions
Napoleon and the Scientific Expedition to Egypt
An exhibition of the Description de l’Egypte (1809-1828) and other rare books documenting the French Expedition to Egypt.
The Institute of Egypt
The first meeting of the Institute of Egypt, in the former house of Hasân Kâchef in Cairo. Image source: Napoleon I, (Edme-François) Jomard, and Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Fourier. Description de l’Egypte: ou, Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Egypte pendant l’expédition de l’armee Française. État moderne planches, vol. 1, A Paris: De L’Imprimerie impériale, 1809-1828, pl. 55.
Most of the scientific and archaeological projects in Egypt were directed by members of the Institute of Egypt. The Institute was set-up by Napoleon in August of 1799, just after Cairo was secured by his troops. The first meeting took place in the harem room of the palace of an exiled Mameluke, Hasân Kâchef. We have a visual record of the inaugural meeting made by Jean-Constantin Protain, an artist with the expedition; we know from the records kept who was present at this meeting; and we have separate portraits of those by Andre Dutertre, another artist. Can you match up Dutertre's portraits with the members of the group portrayed by Protain? (Here is a hint: Protain hismelf, wearing glasses is show in the background, sitting on a bench, sketching away.)
Click on the photos bellow to enlarge and find more information about each member of the group.
Napoleon Bonaparte was the first vice-President of the Institute of Egypt and made suggestions of suitable projects to be undertaken. Image source: Reybaud, Louis, et al. Histoire scientifique et militaire de l’expédition française en Égypte.... Vol. 3, Paris: A.-J. Dénain et Delamare, 1830-1836, frontispiece.
Gaspard Monge (1746-1814) was one of the three senior members of the commission of Sciences and Arts. Image source: Reybaud, Louis, et al. Histoire scientifique et militaire de l’expédition française en Égypte.... Vol. 6, Paris: A.-J. Dénain et Delamare, 1830-1836, pp. 20-21.
Louis-Marie-Joseph-Maximilian Caffarelli du Falga (1756-1799) was commander of the Corps of Engineers and responsible for the procurement of all the expedition equipment and its library. Image source: Reybaud, Louis, et al. Histoire scientifique et militaire de l’expédition française en Égypte.... Vol. 5, Paris: A.-J. Dénain et Delamare, 1830-1836, frontispiece.
Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1772-1844) was only 26 when the expedition began, but was already the chair of Zoology at the Museum of Natural History in Paris. Image source: Reybaud, Louis, et al. Histoire scientifique et militaire de l’expédition française en Égypte.... Vol. 8, Paris: A.-J. Dénain et Delamare, 1830-1836, pp. 420-421.
Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier (1768-1830), at age 30, was one of the three senior members of the Commission of Sciences and Arts. Image source: Reybaud, Louis, et al. Histoire scientifique et militaire de l’expédition française en Égypte.... Vol. 8, Paris: A.-J. Dénain et Delamare, 1830-1836, pp. 36-37.
Jean-Constantin Protain (1769-1837) was an architect, artist, and diplomat. He drew the scene above that records the Institute's first meeting. Image source: Reybaud, Louis, et al. Histoire scientifique et militaire de l’expédition française en Égypte.... Vol. 8, Paris: A.-J. Dénain et Delamare, 1830-1836, pp. 10-11.
Claude-Louis Berthollet (1748-1822) was a chemist, and one of the three senior scientists of the expedition. Image source: Reybaud, Louis, et al. Histoire scientifique et militaire de l’expédition française en Égypte.... Vol. 3, Paris: A.-J. Dénain et Delamare, 1830-1836, pp. 12-13.
Déodat de Dolomieu (1750-1801) was a prominent geologist before Napoleon tapped him for the expeditions. He was the tallest member of the Institute. Image source: Reybaud, Louis, et al. Histoire scientifique et militaire de l’expédition française en Égypte.... Vol. 7, Paris: A.-J. Dénain et Delamare, 1830-1836, pp. 318-319.
Antoine-Francois Andreossy (1761-1828) was a general of brigade in Napoleon's Egyptian army. Image source: Reybaud, Louis, et al. Histoire scientifique et militaire de l’expédition française en Égypte.... Vol. 4, Paris: A.-J. Dénain et Delamare, 1830-1836, pp. 36-37.
René-Nicolas Desgenettes was chief physician for the Commission of Sciences and Arts. Image source: Reybaud, Louis, et al. Histoire scientifique et militaire de l’expédition française en Égypte.... Vol. 5, Paris: A.-J. Dénain et Delamare, 1830-1836, pp. 406-407.
Nicolas Conte (1755-1805) was a mechanical genius who designed an engraving machine that allowed the Description de l'Égypte to be printed. Image source: Napoleon I, (Edme-François) Jomard, and Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Fourier. Description de l’Egypte.... État moderne text, vol. 2, A Paris: De L’Imprimerie impériale, 1809-1828, pl. [3].
Louis Costaz (1767-1842) was professor of mathematics at the Ecole Polytechnique and teacher of many of the students who accompanied the expedition. Image source: Reybaud, Louis, et al. Histoire scientifique et militaire de l’expédition française en Égypte.... Vol. 7, Paris: A.-J. Dénain et Delamare, 1830-1836, frontispiece.
