Napoleon and Egyptomania in Tennessee
A new exhibition about how Napoleon
Bonaparte’s invasion of Egypt in 1798-1799
influenced the rise of Egyptomania, a craze for all
things Egyptian, opens September 6. There had
always been a prior fascination about Egypt, ever
since the Greco-Roman period up
through the 18th century and a lively
interest in Orientalism. Napoleon
and Egyptomania in Tennessee”, curated
by Elaine A. Evans, traces this
interest in Egypt and focuses on the
growing obsession in the wake of
the Napoleon Expedition. Its resulting
publications contributed to the
lasting influence on design movements
of the 19th and 20th centuries in Europe and
the United States. The McClung Museum exhibition
brings this topic close to home using images
and objects that reflect Egyptian influences---all
found in Tennessee.
Napoleon had not only brought his French forces to Egypt in 1798, but also a group of some 167 French scholars to record the ancient monuments and modern aspects of an exotic country. During this time the Rosetta Stone was discovered in 1799, leading to the eventual decipherment of hieroglyphs, which had long been a mysterious script. Their scientific observations and research resulted in the publication of Description de l’Égypte, Paris, 1809-1828, a famous multi-volume collection full of extraordinary large, copper plate engravings detailing their work. This great work gave the reader of the 19th century a rich and broad idea about the wonders of the great Nile Valley and its important legacy in art and architecture. A selection of these engravings from the Museum’s collection illustrates the contributions made by the French scholars.
The following decades of art and design influenced
by this period of exploration and minute,
scientific examinations gave rise to an increase of
Egyptian motifs
and styles being
used in art and
architecture.
Fashion trends as
well as furnishings
of various
sorts were impacted.
Archaeologists were excavating, Egyptologists
were discovering, books and Egypt were studied,
hieroglyphs were being deciphered, museums
were collecting Egyptian objects, travelers were
flocking to Egypt, and international expositions
included Egyptian Monuments and design.
Then the famous Tomb of Tutankhamen was
discovered in 1922, creating another wave of
interest. What had emerged was a mania for
interpreting Egypt.
Egyptomania came to the United States
in the 19th century, but much later to Tennessee.
The Museum exhibition displays
some examples of the Egyptian Revival Style in
architecture and other representations of Egyptomania
found throughout the State. For example,
photographic images recall the Egyptian Palace at
Nashville’s Tennessee Centennial and International
Exposition, 1897, and show Nashville’s The Downtown
Presbyterian Church, 1849-1851, a perfect
example of the Egyptian Revival Style in architecture.
Other images include the Pyramid Arena in
Memphis, several buildings in Tennessee designed
in an Egyptian style, and cemeteries, with their
obelisks and sphinxes.
Represented in three-dimensional,
decorative art categories
is a handsome 19th century
bronze and stone clock flanked
by gilded female figures, a
charming rug, decorated by an Egyptian queen and
goddess, and an elegant chess set, whose pieces
are shaped as ancient Egyptian kings, queens and
nobles. The exhibition also shows Egyptomania
in original memorabilia,
silverware, ceramics, glass,
advertisements, music,
magic, and entertainments,
including short film clips
from movies with Egyptian
themes.
Exhibition Curator and Sponsors
- CURATOR: The exhibition was produced by the Frank H. McClung Museum and curated by Elaine A. Evans.
- SPONSORS: Napoleon and Egyptomania in Tennessee is made possible through the generosity and cooperation of Belmont Mansion; Nashville Main Public Library; Tennessee State Museum; Tennessee State Library and Archives; the Parthenon; Special Collections and University Archives, and the Fine Arts Gallery at Vanderbilt University; Special Collections, University of Tennessee; and private lenders. Aletha and Clayton Brodine Museum Fund, Arader Galleries, New York, and Bennett Galleries.
Exhibtion Catalog
A catalog of the exhibition has been prepared by curator Elaine A. Evans, and is available for sale in the Museum Shop.
Left—Statuette of Napoleon, ca. 1915
Right—Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition, Nashville, 1897