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 Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

, 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 The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Ki ...

, 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 France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

, 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 Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, 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), ma ...

to travel in the

Far East The ''Far East'' was a European term to refer to the geographical regions that includes East and Southeast Asia as well as the Russian Far East to a lesser extent. South Asia is sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons. The ter ...

. He returned with a fine art collection that he would constantly expand upon for the remainder of his life. Cernuschi died at

Menton Menton (; , written ''Menton'' in classical norm or ''Mentan'' in Mistralian norm; it, Mentone ) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera, close to the Italian border. Me ...

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 ...

art, funeral statuary, painted 8th-century silks, neolithic terracottas (3rd millennium BC), Japanese art (mostly bronze objects and sculptures, ceramics, paravents), ancient

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

n bronze objects, an Amithaba

Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, he was born in L ...

from the 8th Century, plus examples of calligraphy.

Works

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