1797-1798: Messageries – Balls -Hôtel de Longueville
Géricault Life
1795 Portrait de Peirre Sériziat (detail) Jacques Louise David, Louvre.
Introduction
Théodore Géricault’s father worked at the Hôtel de Longueville in Paris. For this reason, and others, Théodore Géricault visited the Hôtel de Longueville often after his family moved from Rouen to Paris sometime around 1796. In this article we continue our discussion of the community of entrepreneurs and others living and working at the Hôtel de Longueville during this crucial period in Géricault’s life.
1797 – Messageries at the Hôtel de Longueville
We begin our examination of Messageries at the Hôtel de Longueville with this 1797 announcement in the Journal de Toulouse. Space in the western part of the Hôtel de Longueville was purposed for manufacturing, shops, restaurants, and other commercial ventures – including a Messagerie. Messageries transported mail, parcels, and people on roads and waterways. After moving to Paris, Théodore Géricault had numerous opportunities to spend time with the horses, stable boys, and postilions working out of the Messageries at the Hôtel de Longueville.
Journal de Toulouse An 5, Messidor 24, (1797, July 12th)
Public Announcement – Diligences en Poste (Stagecoaches) For Paris
“The Rozeleur Company announces the establishment of a new stagecoach line departing for Paris via Montauban, Cahors, Brives, Limoges, Argenton, Vierson, Orléans, & c. … The journey from Toulouse to Paris, & from Paris to Toulouse will take seven days. One travels from Toulouse to Limoges in three days, and leaves without delay from Limoges and arrives in Paris in four. The stagecoach from Toulouse departs every Friday, and from Paris on Wednesday every week… The first of these trips will begin on 26 messidor, an 5, (Friday, 14 July, 1797 old style). The office of this diligence in Toulouse is at the former college de la Vache, chez Rozeleur; & in Paris, near the former Palais-Royal, at the maison de Longueville, formerly of the Tobacco Tax Farmers. – On arriving in Paris one finds transportation for all the major cities of the republic.”
1798: Concerts and Balls at the Hôtel de Longueville
In the September issue we discussed the balls and concerts at the Hôtel de Longueville. The balls and concerts at the Hôtel de Longueville were among the most popular and infamous in Paris, soon acquiring an international notoriety. The ballroom, or Salle des Fêtes, at the Hôtel de Longueville was located on the premier étage (second floor) of the structure, in a large space previously occupied by the former Manufacture Républicaine de Papier Peints, the Republican Wallpaper Manufactory of Étienne Anisson Duperon, guillotined in 1794. Music and balls played an important role in Théodore Géricault’s later life. I present here two 1798 notices of the entertainments offered at the Hôtel de Longueville.
Journal de Paris
11 Floréal, 6me Année de la République (April 30th 1798)
Concert Olympique – Maison Longueville
“For nine years afficionados of great music have lamented the dissolution of the concert olympique; the perfection of their playing and execution is only rarely encountered. Since then the greater part of the artists who comprised this orchestra have performed at the théatre de Louvois, where they have received the plaudits from an enlightened public which they well deserve. We have learned that all the artists who formerly performed in the concert olympique have now been reunited with those who play at the théatre de Louvois. These artists all propose to perform together in a new space under the name: concert olympique. They have chosen to present their concerts in the fêtes at the maison Longueville in the place du Carrouzel. Everyone knows how well this richly decorated space suits music such as theirs. The first concert will be performed there on the 15th of this month [Floréal – Friday, May 14th, 1798]. We shall provide the program shortly.”
Manuel du Voyageur A Paris
Panthéon des Muses
Maison Longueville, rue Nicaise, N°. 12, place du Carrousel. *
“A ball is held there from 7 o’clock until 11:30 on the 5th and 10th of each décade. The beauty of the room, which is 68 meters long and situated in the center of Paris, the manner in which it is decorated and lit, the choice of artists selected by citizen Hulin to perform in the orchestra, and the attention to detail observed there – together offer a most agreeable venue for connoisseurs of the dance during the winter season. Citizen Julien conducts the orchestra, which is augmented by several new quadrilles. Dancing begins from 7 in the evening and continues until midnight. The price of entry is 3 francs for a gentlemen and a lady, and 2 francs for an individual. By subscribing for 4 balls, the tickets cost no more than 6 francs. The citizen Ducy, professor of dance, offers a course of emulation five times per décade from 7 in the evening until 11 – to which he invites all interested in his art.”
*Manuel du Voyageur A Paris Contenant la description des Spectacles, Manufactures, Etablissemens publics, Jardins, Cabinets, curieux, etc. A Paris Chez Favre, Libraire, Palais-Egalité; Galeries de bois, N° 220, aux neuf Muses. An VII (1798) pp. 122-123.