Edmond du Sommerard inherited a museum. His father, the archaeologist Alexandre du Sommerard, had assembled the collection from which the Musée de Cluny was born, and the son became its director, charged with putting in order what the father had piled up. An orientalist by training, he was also in charge, from 1871 to 1878, of the universal exhibitions, those showcases of industrial France. He died in 1885.
The story
Edmond du Sommerard was the first curator of the musée de Cluny, born of the collection his father, the archaeologist Alexandre du Sommerard, had piled up. The son took the museum from one thousand four hundred and thirty-four objects to more than ten thousand, and it was he who brought in the six tapestries of the Lady and the Unicorn.
Born in Paris on 26 April 1817 and trained as an orientalist, Edmond du Sommerard was also commissioner general of the world's fairs from 1871 to 1878 — the great shop windows of industrial France, in the years when the Republic was getting back on its feet after defeat. A member of the Institut and a grand officer of the Legion of Honour, he died on 5 February 1885.
The inscription in Division 41 shortens his first name to an initial but unrolls three titles, the musée de Cluny among them. Of the seven years of world's fairs, nothing is cut in the stone.
The grave
An inscription that abbreviates the first name but unrolls the titles: “E. du SOMMERARD, grand officier de la légion d'honneur, membre de l'institut, directeur du musée de Cluny, décédé le 5 février 1885.” — Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, member of the Institut, director of the Musée de Cluny, died 5 February 1885. The Musée de Cluny appears there — it is what he made of his father's collection — but nothing of the universal exhibitions of which he was commissioner general for seven years.
On site, do not miss
The inscription abbreviates the first name and carves three titles: “E. du SOMMERARD, grand officier de la légion d'honneur, membre de l'institut, directeur du musée de Cluny.” — Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, member of the Institut, director of the Musée de Cluny.
Visitors' questions
Where is Edmond du Sommerard's grave?
In Division 41, avenue Greffulhe, first row. The stone cuts three titles: “grand officier de la légion d'honneur, membre de l'institut, directeur du musée de Cluny” — grand officer of the Legion of Honour, member of the Institute, director of the Musée de Cluny. He died on 5 February 1885.
Adam PrazmowskiWhat is the link with the Musée de Cluny?
One of family and of office: the collection of his father, the antiquarian Alexandre du Sommerard, is what the museum was built on — and it was the son who became its director and its organiser.
Alain Erlande-BrandenburgWhat did he do for the world's fairs?
He was their commissioner-general from 1871 to 1878: the great shop windows of industrial France, in the years when the Republic was getting back on its feet after the defeat of 1870.
Louis François de TurgyWas he an orientalist?
By training, yes — before he gave himself to the Middle Ages of the Musée de Cluny and to the world's fairs. He was a member of the Institute and a grand officer of the Legion of Honour. He was sixty-seven when he died.
Michel AdansonAudio guide to Père Lachaise: the best unusual guided tour!
Discover the secrets of the most astonishing tombs
the audio guidefrom€6.99