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Baron Jérome-Frédéric Pichon (3 December 1812 – 26 August 1896) was a 19th-century French
bibliographer Bibliography (from and ), as a discipline, is traditionally the academic study of books as physical, cultural objects; in this sense, it is also known as bibliology (from ). English author and bibliographer John Carter describes ''bibliography ...
and
bibliophile Bibliophilia or bibliophilism is the love of books. A bibliophile or bookworm is an individual who loves and frequently reads and/or collects books. Profile The classic bibliophile is one who loves to read, admire and collect books, often ama ...
. He was one of the most important French art collectors of his time.


Biography

Jérôme Pichon was the second son of Alexandrine Émilie Brongniart (1780–1847), whose father was the architect
Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart (; 15 February 1739 – 6 June 1813) was a prominent French architect. Biography Born in Paris, France. A prominent member of Parisian society, in 1767 he married Anne-Louise d'Egremont. The couple became frie ...
, and of Baron Louis-André Pichon. After a brief stay at the
École de Saint-Cyr École may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * École, Savoi ...
, he studied law and was then appointed an auditor at the Conseil d’État before withdrawing completely from public life in 1846. He was also Consul General to
Smyrna Smyrna ( ; grc, Σμύρνη, Smýrnē, or , ) was a Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to promi ...
. He began his collection of old books in 1831 and soon became indebted to booksellers for 6,000 francs, a sum that his father reimbursed without difficulty: the young man's love of books had turned into a devouring passion, which was to remain with him. He also collected numerous antique objects of various natures (
archaeology Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...
,
numismatics Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, medals and related objects. Specialists, known as numismatists, are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, but the discipline also includ ...
, prints,
silversmith A silversmith is a metalworker who crafts objects from silver. The terms ''silversmith'' and ''goldsmith'' are not exactly synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product may vary great ...
s, etc.), including a rare collection of horse bits from Galiot de Genouillac, the king's great equerry, donated by his daughter to his successor in 1546 Claude Goufffier, lord of Oiron (
Deux-Sèvres Deux-Sèvres () is a French department. ''Deux-Sèvres'' literally means "two Sèvres": the Sèvre Nantaise and the Sèvre Niortaise are two rivers which have their sources in the department. It had a population of 374,878 in 2019.
) and artefacts belonging to him. For more than 50 years, Pichon acquired one of the rarest books and
manuscript A manuscript (abbreviated MS for singular and MSS for plural) was, traditionally, any document written by hand – or, once practical typewriters became available, typewritten – as opposed to mechanically printing, printed or repr ...
s collections of his time, soon becoming president of the Société des bibliophiles français (SBF) in 1844, a society which he arbitrated efficiently, composing a number of
bibliographic Bibliography (from and ), as a discipline, is traditionally the academic study of books as physical, cultural objects; in this sense, it is also known as bibliology (from ). English author and bibliographer John Carter describes ''bibliography ...
records intended for reissues, catalogues or publications and to the ''Bulletin des Bibliophiles''. He used to reside 17 in the former hôtel de Charles Gruÿn des Bordes, better known as Hôtel de Lauzun which he restored from collector's period items; moreover, he rented certain rooms to creators such as
Baudelaire Charles Pierre Baudelaire (, ; ; 9 April 1821 – 31 August 1867) was a French poet who also produced notable work as an essayist and art critic. His poems exhibit mastery in the handling of rhyme and rhythm, contain an exoticism inherited fro ...
and
Théophile Gautier Pierre Jules Théophile Gautier ( , ; 30 August 1811 – 23 October 1872) was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, and art and literary critic. While an ardent defender of Romanticism, Gautier's work is difficult to classify and rem ...
and it was there that the famous meetings of the
Club des Hashischins The Club des Hashischins (sometimes also spelled Club des Hashishins or Club des Hachichins, "Club of the Hashish-Eaters") was a Parisian group dedicated to the exploration of drug-induced experiences, notably with hashish.Levinthal, C. F. (2012) ...
took place. The SBF had its headquarters there. He maintained a long correspondence with
Charles Nodier Jean Charles Emmanuel Nodier (29 April 1780 – 27 January 1844) was a French author and librarian who introduced a younger generation of Romanticists to the ''conte fantastique'', gothic literature, and vampire tales. His dream related writings ...
and
Paul Lacroix Paul Lacroix (; 27 February 1806 – 16 October 1884) was a French author and journalist. He is known best by his pseudonym P.L. Jacob, bibliophile, or Bibliophile Jacob, suggested by his great interest in libraries and books generally. Biogra ...
. Among other things, he is responsible for the publication of the '' Ménagier de Paris'' in 1846. Married to Rosalie Clarmont, daughter of banker Jean-Charles Clarmont and Rosalie Favrin, he was the father of Étienne Pichon, who was sub-prefect of
Vervins Vervins (; nl, Wervin) is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. It is a subprefecture of the department. It lies between the small streams Vilpion and Chertemps, which drain towards the Serre. It is surrounde ...
and who died in 1876. His rich library was the subject of two public auctions, one during his lifetime on 19 April 1869, and the other after his death in 1897.


Publications (selection)

*1844: ''La vénerie'' *1846: ''Le ménagier de Paris : Traité de morale et d'économie domestique composé vers 1393''. *1880: ''Vie de Charles-Henry, comte d'Hoym : ambassadeur de Saxe-Pologne en France et celebre amateur de, Livres 1694 à 1736''. on Gallica *1892: ''Le viandier de Guillaume Tirel dit Taillevent'' on Gallica *1895: ''Documents pour servir à l'histoire des libraires de Paris, 1486-1600''''Documents pour servir à l'histoire des libraires de Paris, 1486-1600''
/ref> on Archive.org


References


Bibliography

* *1897: Paul Chevallier, ''Collections de feu M. le baron Jérome Pichon : catalogue des objets antiques, du Moyen Âge, de la renaissance, etc. dont la vente aura lieu a Paris, Hôtel Drouot, 24 avril - 1er mai, 1897'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Pichon, Jerome French bibliophiles French bibliographers French art collectors Barons of France Members of the Conseil d'État (France) École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr alumni French diplomats 1812 births Writers from Paris 1896 deaths