Isidore Taylor published with Charles Nodier what was the first serious survey of the national heritage, at a time when cathedrals were still being demolished to sell off the stone. As royal commissioner of the Théâtre-Français he had Hernani and Henri III et sa cour performed: the Romantic battle thus had an administrator. It was he who proposed, in 1828, buying the Luxor obelisk.
The story
Born in Brussels on 5 August 1789, Isidore Justin Séverin Taylor published with Charles Nodier the Voyages pittoresques et romantiques dans l'ancienne France: the first serious inventory of French heritage, at a time when cathedrals were still being pulled down for their stone.
Royal commissioner at the Théâtre-Français from 1825 to 1830, then from 1831 to 1838, a convinced Romantic, he put on Hugo's Hernani and Dumas's Henri III et sa cour: the Romantic battle had an administrator.
In 1828 he proposed acquiring the obelisk of Luxor; the monument ended up on the Place de la Concorde. As inspector general of fine arts, he bought in Spain in 1835 the paintings of the Spanish Gallery of the Louvre, opened in 1838.
His real work lay elsewhere: he founded five mutual aid funds — dramatic artists (1840), musicians (1843), painters, sculptors, architects, engravers and draughtsmen (1844), inventors (1849), teaching (1858) — and the Société des gens de lettres, the writers' professional body. Before him, a ruined artist died on a public ward.
A senator in 1867, Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur in 1877, he died in Paris on 6 September 1879 and rests in Division 55, on the Avenue de la Chapelle, first row.
The grave
A full-length marble statue by the sculptor Gabriel Jules Thomas (1824-1905), on a tall pedestal — and, on a low wall, five funeral wreaths, each bearing the name of an association and its founding date in Roman numerals: “MDCCCXL Association des artistes dramatiques”, “MDCCCXLIII […] musiciens”, “MDCCCXLIV […] peintres sculpteurs architectes graveurs et dessinateurs”, “MDCCCXLIX […] inventeurs”, “MDCCCLVIII […] enseignement” — dramatic artists, musicians, painters, sculptors, architects, engravers and draughtsmen, inventors, teaching. The dedication, “Au baron TAYLOR membre de l'Institut, MDCCCLXXXIV”, dates from 1884: the monument was raised five years after his death, by those he had helped.
On site, do not miss
The five wreaths on the low wall, each bearing the name of an association and its founding date in Roman numerals — from MDCCCXL to MDCCCLVIII. The statue itself is dated MDCCCLXXXIV: it was put up five years after his death.
Visitors' questions
Where is Baron Taylor's grave?
In Division 55, avenue de la Chapelle, first row, beneath a full-length marble statue set on a tall pedestal. A low wall carries five funeral wreaths. The Division is also home to Adolphe Thiers.
Adolphe ThiersWhat are the Voyages pittoresques?
The Voyages pittoresques et romantiques dans l'ancienne France — picturesque and romantic journeys through old France — published with Charles Nodier: the first serious inventory of France's heritage, at a time when medieval monuments were still being pulled down for their stone.
Charles NodierDid Taylor bring the Concorde obelisk to Paris?
He proposed acquiring it in 1828, when he was Inspector General of Fine Arts. The Luxor monolith would end up on Place de la Concorde, where it still stands — and the baron's name appears nowhere on it.
Jean-François ChampollionWhich associations did Taylor found?
Five mutual-aid funds: for stage actors in 1840, musicians in 1843, painters and sculptors in 1844, inventors in 1849 and teachers in 1858 — plus the Société des gens de lettres, the writers' society. Before him, an artist who fell on hard times died in a charity ward.
Jules ClaretieAudio guide to Père Lachaise: the best unusual guided tour!
Discover the secrets of the most astonishing tombs
the audio guidefrom€6.99