Henri Cernuschi (; it, Enrico Cernuschi ; 19 February 1821 – 11 May 1896) was a major French-Italian banker, economist and Asian art collector, who began public life as a politician in Italy in 1848–1850.

Life

Cernuschi was born of wealthy parents at Milan, and was destined for the legal profession. During his studies he became involved in the revolutionary movement. He played a conspicuous part in the insurrection at Milan in 1848, and also in the Roman Republic, where he had a seat in the Assembly. On the collapse of the revolutionary government he was arrested (1850), but managed to escape to France, where he engaged in commerce and banking, became naturalized, and acquired a large fortune. He took a prominent part in opposing the Socialist movement, and in April 1870, having subscribed a large sum to the funds of a committee formed to combat the Napoleonic plebiscite, had to leave the country. In September the formation of the Third Republic enabled Cernuschi to return, but he soon left Paris to travel in the Far East. He returned with a fine art collection that he would constantly expand upon for the remainder of his life. Cernuschi died at Menton in May 1896, and was interred at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

Legacy

Cernuschi bequeathed his collection to the city of Paris, as well as his private residence at No 7. avenue Velasquez on the edge of

Parc Monceau Parc Monceau () is a public park situated in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France, at the junction of Boulevard de Courcelles, Rue de Prony and Rue Georges Berger. At the main entrance is a rotunda. The park covers an area of 8.2 hectares (20 ...

in the 8th arrondissement to be used as a museum. Open to the public today, the

Cernuschi Museum Henri Cernuschi (; it, Enrico Cernuschi ; 19 February 1821 – 11 May 1896) was a major French-Italian banker, economist and Asian art collector, who began public life as a politician in Italy in 1848–1850. Life Cernuschi was born of wealth ...

collection includes

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...

art, funeral statuary, painted 8th-century silks, neolithic terracottas (3rd millennium BC),

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

ese art (mostly bronze objects and sculptures, ceramics, paravents), ancient Persian bronze objects, an Amithaba Buddha from the 8th Century, plus examples of

calligraphy Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...

Works

As a banker, Cernuschi is best known for his publications on financial questions, more especially

bimetallism Bimetallism, also known as the bimetallic standard, is a monetary standard in which the value of the monetary unit is defined as equivalent to certain quantities of two metals, typically gold and silver, creating a fixed rate of exchange betwee ...

. Of the latter he was an ardent champion, and the word itself is commonly supposed to have originated with him—at least in its English form it is first found in his ''Silver Vindicated'' (1876). Among his other works were: ''Mécanique de l'échange'' (1861); ''Illusion des sociétés coopératives'' (1886); ''Le Bimétallisme en Angleterre'' (1879); ''Le Grand Procès de l'Union latine'' (1884).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cernuschi, Henri 1821 births 1896 deaths Politicians from Milan French economists People of the Revolutions of 1848 French bankers French art collectors Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery 19th-century French businesspeople