Château de Malmaison and Bois-Préau unveil exhibition from Corsica to Napoleon Bonaparte

Published by My de Sortiraparis · Photos by My de Sortiraparis · Published on March 29, 2023 at 07:37 p.m.
The Musée National des Châteaux de Malmaison & Bois-Préau invites you to discover the exhibition entitled "1769 la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte", from March 29 to July 3, 2023. This exhibition, presented on the first floor of the Château de Bois-Préau, reopened after 30 years, reveals the synthesis of 3 exhibitions from the Maison Bonaparte in Ajaccio, exploring the history of Corsican society, the architecture of patrician houses, their furnishings and the art of living in Corsica in the XVIIIᵉ century. All the more reason to immerse ourselves in the history of Napoleon Bonaparte's birthplace.

We're off to the Château de Malmaison , and in particular to the Château de Bois-Préau, which recently reopened its doors after 30 years of closure, to discover an original, never-before-seen exhibition entitled "Corsica 1769: The birth of Napoleon Bonaparte". This exhibition is a synthesis of three previous exhibitions presented at the Maison Bonaparte in 2018, 2020 and 2022, highlighting recently acquired knowledge about 18th-century Corsica.

Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8279Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8279Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8279Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8279

Join us from March 29 to July 3, 2023, to plunge into the history of Napoleon Bonaparte, from his birthplace in Ajaccio. The work was carried out under the direction of Jean-Marc Olivesi, General Heritage Curator in charge of the Maison Bonaparte collections, in collaboration with a network of historians and academics.

This exhibition allows you to discover the Napoleonic houses and to encourage exchanges between them, with a view to the future of the Service à compétence nationale des musées nationaux des châteaux de Malmaison et de Bois-Préau, of which the Maison Bonaparte is a part.

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This new exhibition reveals how the Bonaparte family was politically, socially and culturally integrated into Corsica in the 18th century. The exhibition highlights political movements in Corsica, such as the rebellions against Genoa's authority, which led to a treaty signed in Versailles between France and Genoa on May 15, 1768. The treaty transferred authority to France for ten years, which Genoa had the option of recovering once the associated costs had been reimbursed. In 1737, the Republic of Genoa had sought external military support to restore order on the rebellious island. However, their search for military aid ended in 1768 when France provided assistance.

Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8296Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8296Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8296Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8296

The exhibition explores the cultural significance of 18th-century Corsica, influenced by Italian and French culture, and the coexistence of Corsican rural society with elites who were attracted by Enlightenment ideals. The exhibition presents the living quarters, furniture and clothing of the Bonaparte family alongside other noble families, highlighting the decorative arts of 18th-century Corsica.

Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8303Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8303Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8303Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8303

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The exhibition seeks to answer questions about the place of the Bonaparte family in Corsican society, from their roots in Corsica in the 15th and 16th centuries to Charles Bonaparte, Napoleon's father. The exhibition explores how the Bonapartes negotiated their position in Corsican society, notably with the help of Count Marbeuf, who was governor of the island and concerned about the future of the Bonaparte family, particularly the education of their children.

Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8312Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8312Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8312Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8312

This exhibition was created in collaboration with the Service national de compétence, the Maison Bonaparte and various institutions in Corsica, such as the Département du patrimoine corse, the Musée corse, the Musée Pascal Paoli and other private collectors. It also features emblematic works from the Maison Bonaparte and various other museums, including the Genoese Governors' Palace, the Caraffa Palace and the Tomaso Prelà Heritage Library.

Finally, the exhibition features important loans from the Diplomatic Archives and the Musée national de Versailles et de Trianon, such as the Treaty of Versailles and a portrait of Étienne-François de Choiseul by Van Loo, which illustrate Corsica's connection with France.

Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau - IMG 4376Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau - IMG 4376Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau - IMG 4376Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau - IMG 4376

The exhibition

The exhibition"1769, Corsica at the birth of Napoleon Bonaparte" is divided into several rooms. The first room deals with Corsica' s political situation in the 18th century, and the conflicts with Genoa that led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The second room presents Corsican society at the time, through watercolors of trades, maps of towns and terrier maps. The third room is devoted to the Maison Bonaparte, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, which is compared with other patrician houses. The fourth room is located in the grand salon blanc of the Château de Bois-Préau, where you can admire the furniture of the Corsican bourgeoisie and nobility, compared with that of the Maison Bonaparte. Finally, the last room allows you to discover Napoleon Bonaparte's youth, his first feats of arms, and his exceptional destiny.

Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8325Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8325Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8325Exposition 1769, la Corse à la naissance de Napoléon Bonaparte au Château de Malmaison et Bois Préau -  A7C8325

Discover exceptional works such as Napoleon Bonaparte's Baptismal Act, Fortunato Castiglione's Mirror, Napoleon's childhood boule game, the painting of the Siege of Toulon and the bust of General Bonaparte.

In any case, it's a wonderful opportunity to discover the heart of French history!

Practical information

Dates and Opening Time
From March 29, 2023 to July 3, 2023

× Approximate opening times: to confirm opening times, please contact the establishment.

    Location

    1 B Avenue de l'Impératrice Joséphine
    92500 Rueil Malmaison

    Route planner

    Prices
    Exposition temporaire Bois Préau tarif réduit et plein tarif: €6 - €8
    Billet jumelé Malmaison-Bois-Préau: €8 - €11

    Official website
    musees-nationaux-malmaison.fr

    More information
    The châteaux are open every day except Tuesday.

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