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June Issue 2006
South Carolina State Museum in Columbia, SC, Presents Exhibit on Napoleon Bonaparte
What
kind of man believes he can change the world? Napoleon Bonaparte
believed it, and he did indeed leave a lasting mark on world history
that lives to this day.
That mark will continue June 1 when the South
Carolina State Museum in Columbia, SC, opens the prestigious exhibit
NAPOLEON An Intimate Portrait. The exhibit will continue
through Jan. 1, 2007.
This major exhibition will include more than 250 period artifacts,
many of which were the French Emperor's personal items, including
his famous hat, coat, portraits, busts, furniture, battle maps,
his personal game box and many others, as well as the ceremonial
sword used to proclaim him emperor at his coronation on Dec. 2,
1804.
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) not only conquered most of Europe
with his brilliant military tactics, but he had a lasting impact
on history in many other ways, says State Museum Chief Curator
of History Fritz Hamer.
"Inadvertently, he made a huge contribution
to American history by selling the Louisiana Territory to the
United States during Thomas Jefferson's presidency, which doubled
the size of our country and changed our destiny and national identity.
"He also commissioned the construction of many public works
still in use today, including more than 20,000 miles of imperial
and 12,000 miles of regional roads, a thousand miles of canals,
the Great Cornice road along the Mediterranean coast, as well
as mountain roads and port expansions," said Hamer.
"Napoleon also contributed significantly to culture by beautifying Paris with the building of boulevards, bridges and monuments, expanding the Louvre and establishing important museums in 15 other European cities," added Hamer. "Napoleon also established the Napoleonic Code, which serves to this day as the basis for French law."
"Another monumental contribution to culture was the advancement of the world's understanding of the ancient Egyptian civilization," said Hamer. "Napoleon commissioned the archeological study which yielded the discovery of the great key to the ancient Egyptian language, the Rosetta Stone".
"Museum guests will be thrilled at the
stories told by these incredible artifacts," said the curator.
Napoleon Bonaparte was born to parents of Italian heritage on Corsica, an island off the coast of France, and after being graduated as a second lieutenant from the Royal Military College of Paris at age 16, rose to become a brigadier general at 25 during the French Revolution. He became general in command of the Army of the Interior two years later, and after victorious campaigns in Italy and Egypt, he seized power in 1799 and was elected First Consul of the Republic, ending the Revolution. In 1804 he was crowned emperor.
"Napoleon was one of the most fascinating characters in history, from his military genius and great victories to his famous defeats and exiles," said Hamer. "He was also a 'self-made' man, who attained his position without being born to royalty, but through his own talent, determination and vision."
NAPOLEON An Intimate Portrait is a traveling exhibition from the Russell Etling Company. For more information on the exhibit, visit (www.napoleonexhibit.com).
For more information check our SC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Museum at 803/898-4921 or at (www.museum.state.sc.us).
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