Paul Georges Louis Berger (5 October 1834,
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
– 8 July 1910,
Versailles
The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, u ...
) was a French engineer, politician, and art enthusiast.
Biography
He studied at the
École des Mines
École may refer to:
* an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education
Secondary education or post-primary education covers two phases on the International Standard Classification of Education scal ...
, and worked as an engineer for the
. In 1867, he helped organize the
Exposition Universelle. Nine years later, in 1876, he helped to create the French pavilion for the
Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. This led to his becoming a teacher at the
École des beaux-arts de Paris
The Beaux-Arts de Paris is a French ''grande école'' whose primary mission is to provide high-level arts education and training. This is classical and historical School of Fine Arts in France. The art school, which is part of the Paris Sciences ...
. While there, he wrote a book based on his lessons: ''L'École française de peinture, depuis ses origines jusqu'à la fin du règne de Louis XIV'', published by
Hachette Hachette may refer to:
* Hachette (surname)
* Hachette (publisher), a French publisher, the imprint of Lagardère Publishing
** Hachette Book Group, the American subsidiary
** Hachette Distribution Services, the distribution arm
See also
* Hachett ...
.
In 1878, he was a member of the jury at the
Exposition Universelle He also served on the jury at the
Exposition of 1889. During those years, he made contributions to the
French pavilions at exhibitions in
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
,
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
, and
Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504, . In addition, he was General Commissioner for the
Exposition internationale d'Électricité of 1881.
He entered politics in 1889, and was elected a Deputy for the
Department of the Seine, on the
Progressive Republican
The Republican Party in the United States includes several factions, or wings.
During the 19th century, Republican factions included the Half-Breeds, who supported civil service reform; the Radical Republicans, who advocated the immediate and to ...
ticket. He would hold that office until his death. In 1903, he was elected to the
Académie des Beaux-Arts, where he took Seat #5 in the "Unattached" section, succeeding
Henry Roujon
Henry Roujon (1 September 1853, Paris – 1 June 1914, Paris) was a French academic, essayist and novelist.
Roujon was the secretary of Jules Ferry, and became director of Fine Arts in 1894. Later he was named secretary for life of the Acadà ...
, who had resigned to become the Académie's Secretary.
Following his work at the Exposition of 1867, he was named a Knight in the
Legion of Honor
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
; promoted to Officer in 1878, and Commander in 1889.
Documentation
@ the Base Léonore
''Base Léonore'', or the Léonore database, is a French database that lists the records of the members of the National Order of the Legion of Honor. The database lists the records of those inducted into the Legion of Honor
The National Ord ...
A section of the was renamed the in 1912.
References
Further reading
* Patrick Cabanel, "Georges Berger", In: André Encrevé (Ed.), ''Dictionnaire biographique des protestants français de 1787 à nos jours'', Vol.1: A-C, Les Éditions de Paris Max Chaleil, Paris, 2015, pp.246-247
Anonymous biography, with an obituary by F. Frédéric-Moreau
from the ''Bulletin de l'association des anciens élèves de l'Ecole des mines de Paris'' @ Les Annales des Mines, 1910
External links
''L'École française de peinture, depuis ses origines jusqu'à la fin du règne de Louis XIV'', full text
@ Gallica
Berger's political record
@ the Base Sycomore
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berger, Georges
1834 births
1910 deaths
French engineers
Members of the Chamber of Deputies (France)
Members of the Académie des beaux-arts
Recipients of the Legion of Honour
People from Paris