Jean-Jacques Barthelemy

Origin and course

It began its traditional studies with the College of the Oratory with Marseilles, it followed courses of Philosophie and Théologie to the college Jésuite, and finally entered to the Séminaire of the Lazariste S. Whereas it studied for the priesthood which it wished to integrate, it turned its attention towards the Eastern languages and was introduced by his Marseilles friend Mr. Cary being studied of traditional antiquities, particularly in Numismatique.

Numismatist

In 1744 it went to Paris with a letter of introduction for Claude Gros of Boze, secretary perpetual of the Académie of the inscriptions and the humanities and guard of the royal collection of the currencies and medals. He became his assistant. He is received in 1747 with the Academy of the Inscriptions. In 1753, died of this one, it succeeded to him in the function and remained there until the Révolution. During its mandate it doubled practically the collection. It enriches the cabinet by many acquisitions: to this end, he traversed the Italy and visited the ruins of Pompéi, Paestum and Herculaneum. During its stay in Rome, he knew the future duke of Choiseul.

Choiseul

In 1755 it accompanied the ambassador by France Etienne François de Stainville (future duke of Choiseul), in Italy, where it spent three years of archaeological research . At that time it corresponds with the Count de Caylus - his collaborator with the cabinet of the medals -, his letters will be published posthumément.
Choiseul had a great regard for Barthélemy, and on his return in France, Barthelémy became familiar of his household, and received important removals of iron of his owner.

Anacharsis

It had been initially made known by work of scholarship, and published in 1788, its Voyage of the Anacharsis young person in Greece in the medium of IVe century , which made him take row in the letters, it was elected member of the French Academy.

The French revolution

In September 1793 during the Revolution, Barthélemy was arrested as a aristocrat and was imprisoned during a few days. However, the Committee of Public Hello, at once informed by the duchess of Choiseul of her arrest, gave the order for its immediate liberation, and in 1793 it was named bookseller of the National library. He refused this station but took again his old function of guard of the medals and currencies. He still enriches the national collection with several acquisitions by value.
Having been despoiled of its fortune by the Revolution, he dies on April 30th 1795 in greatest indigence.

Member of the Academy of the inscriptions and the humanities.
Member of the French Academy.

Works

In addition to the Voyage of Anarcharsis (often reprinted), it gave a great number of essays erudite, inserted in the memories of the Académie of the inscriptions or published in share.

One finds there:

the Reflections on the alphabet and the language of Palmyre , 1754;
the Reflections on some monuments phenicians , 1758;
the Explanation of the mosaic of Palestine , 1760.

Lallemand of Holy-Cross gave in 1798 its various Œuvres . Villeneuve published in 1821 the best edition of its complete Œuvres , 4 volumes in-8.

Barthelemy had written in 1792 and 1793 of the Mémoires on his life which are at the head several editions of the Voyage of Anacharsis .

Partial source

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