During the year 1853, on this day (April 2,) the following appeared in
the ILLUSTRATED NEWS of New York:
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INAUGURATION OF THE MONUMENT TO DAGUERRE AT BRY-SUR-MARNE
The idea of erecting a monument to one who has greatly extended the
sphere of painting, and who has endowed contemporary art with a
wonderful invention--in a word, of honoring the works and services of
Daguerre by a monument, belongs to the French Society of Fine Art, which
fulfilled, on the 4th of November last, its duties, by presiding at the
inauguration of this noble tomb.
Early in the morning, the entire population of Bry-sur-Marne was on
foot. The town wore an unusually animated aspect; in every direction
were groups in motion, and the neighboring villagers, in their holiday
dresses, kept thronging in, to the sound of all the bells in the place,
as they rung forth their measured chimes. All, strangers and citizens,
were marshaled in procession, under the command of one leader, Mr.
Clement.
At eleven o'clock the procession wended its way to the church, where
places of honor had been reserved for the members of the bureau of the
Society of Fine Arts and of the family of the deceased. In the body of
the church stood the National Guard in double ranks, and with them the
personal friends of the illustrious defunct. Ere long, M. de
Corrominas, curate of the community, with his attendants, proceeded to
celebrate grand mass, and then repeated all the appropriate prayers,
which were rendered peculiarly impressive by the sanctity of the place
and the vast numbers assembled.
Had the attention of those present been occupied with the ceremonies,
with that curiosity would they not have regarded that splendid picture
presented by Daguerre to his parish--a diorama, which was one of his
masterpieces, and by which his magic pencil has given to the little
church of his village, which is poor and bare like most French country
churches, the apparent extent and beauty of a cathedral.
The service concluded, the procession advanced toward the cemetery, the
national guard being in advance, proceeded by a number of muffled drums.
The corporations of the city had all spread forth their banner, the
greater part of which were borne by young girls clad in white. To these
succeeded Mr. de Corronimas and his clergy, in their sacerdotal robes,
the President of the Society of Fine Arts, accompanied by two
Secretaries, and the deputation sent by the society. After this body
came the mayor M. Mantienne, and all the municipal authorities of Bry,
with the relatives and friends of the family, and finally a vast
assemblage, composed of the mixed population of the neighboring
villages.
On arriving at the tomb, a still more numerous assembly, however,
awaited them; and after the benediction had been given, President
Peronne, Daguerre's intimate friend, overcome by his feeling, begged M.
Moullard de Comtat to read the address, to which grief would not permit
him to give utterance. The Secretary then advanced, and in a clear
voice read aloud a discourse, in which the life of Daguerre was simply
and accurately related, and his contributions to science and art fully
appreciated. An official address from the municipal authorities here
followed, which was answered by a short and touching address from
President Peronne.
The monument erected to Daguerre is of classic simplicity. A granite
pedestal support a pilaster, on the upper part of which Mr. Husson has
sculptured in medallion a likeness of the illustrious defunct. On one
of the sides of the pedestal we read--To Daguerre, The Society libre des
Beaux Arts. MDCCCLII. One the other--Diorama--Daguerreotype. And on
the third--The Municipal Council of Bry, to Louis Jacques Mande
Daguerre, born at Cormeillien-Parisis, November 18, 1787, died at Bry,
August 10, 1851
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In the same issued appeared the following advertisement text:
Now Ready, the Fourth Edition of Nos.1 and 2.
PUTNAM'S MONTHLY,--APRIL
Contents:
1. NEW YORK DAGUERREOTYPED --(Second Article)
Illustrations (from daguerreotypes by Whittemore, drawn on wood by
Doepler and Wells): 1. Custom House. 2. Metropolitan Bank 3. Stores
corner of Broadway and Rector street. 4. View of Day street from
Greenwich street, looking toward Broadway. 5. Stewart's store 6.
Stewart's store, Chambers street front. 7. View in Murray street
looking towards Broadway. 8. Astor House. 9. Delmonico's Hotel. 10.
The St. Nicholas. 11. Taylor's Restaurant. 12. Prescott House 13. The
Metropolitan. 14. The St. Denis. 15. The Clarendon. 16. Laying the
Russ Pavement in Broadway, corner of White street.
(and other text describing other additional articles)
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also in the same issued appeared the following advertisement text:
T R A N S P A R E N T E N A M E L L E D
D A G U E R R E O T Y P E S -- J. GURNEY, Daguerreotypist, No. 349
Broadway, corner of Leonard street, having completed arrangements and
entered into an engagement with Mr. S. N. Carvalho, the discover of the
above beautiful and highly important process, takes this method to
inform his patrons and the public generally, that Mr. Carvalho may be
found at his gallery, No. 349 Broadway, where he is prepared to enamel
daguerreotypes of all sizes, whether taken at the gallery or elsewhere.
In offering this discovery to the public, Mr. Gurney is deeply impressed
with the importance which a hard, transparent enamel surface must and
does aid to the intrinsic value of good Daguerreotypes. It effectually
and permanently preserves it from atmospheric action; the picture may be
washed, rubbed hard with a soft handkerchief or glove, handled with
soiled or greasy fingers, the surface of the enamel not sustaining the
slightest injury.
Valuable Daguerreotypes of deceased relatives or fiends may be thus
permanently preserved at a small expense.
To miniature painters, engravers, and artists generally, this enamel
surface affords facility for tracing, which is a great desideratum.
For transmitting Daguerreotypes in a simple letter to any part of the
world, without any extra expense for postage, express, etc., thousands
of persons will take advantage. as it supersedes the great uncertainty,
detention, and expense of ordinary transportation.
The public are respectfully invited to call and examine specimens.
J. Gurney, cor. Leonard and Broadway.
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Posted for your enjoyment. Gary W. Ewer
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04-02-95 |
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