Explorations – No 53 Dec 2012

JANA VIERHOVEN, Foreword

Errata (Explorations 53)

THIERRY VINCENT, An 1802 Aboriginal Necklace rediscovered in the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle of Le Havre

The author, who is a curator at the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle du Havre, recounts the story of a forgotten Aboriginal necklace he rediscovered in the Museum’s collections in 2005. He argues that, contrary to its labelling, which indicates a New Caledonian provenance, the artefact was acquired at Port Jackson in 1802 by artist and naturalist Charles-Alexandre Lesueur, a member of the Baudin expedition. After his death the necklace was eventually incorporated into the collections of the Museum. Thierry Vincent traces not only the itinerary of the necklace but also the changing fortunes of the Museum in war and peace.

Keywords: Aboriginal artefacts, Charles-Alexandre Lesueur, Nicholas Baudin, Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle of Le Havre, Eugène Delessert, Josephine Bonaparte

SABINE COTTE, ‘Destins croisés’ in Australia: Art Conservation with Mirka Mora

The author is a French art conservator who lives and works in Melbourne. She presents an account of her collaboration with Mirka Mora, a celebrated artist and Melbourne icon, also of French background. Through case studies of three public artworks, the author sheds light on the respective importance of a collaborative approach to conservation, where the original intention of the artist is respected. She also highlights the importance of materials, as well as time constraints and cultural sensitivities.

Keywords: Mirka Mora, public artworks, art conservation

JACQUELINE MACNAUGHTAN, ‘Pour l’Art’: An Artist’s Family

This article traces the story of the author’s great-aunt Adélaïde (Ada) Hautrive-Leysalle. Ada, whose father was a French wool buyer and mother a New Zealander, grew up in Australia and France. Based on her letters and diary entries, the story describes her relationship with her parents, her siblings and other members of the family as well as her tormented marriage to French sculptor Émile Leysalle.

Keywords: nineteenth century French family life, Émile Leysalle, Marceau Hautrive

LINDA, STEPHEN & SARA ROSENMAN, Helen Rosenman (1921–2009) Obituary

JULIET FLESCH, Ivan Page (1938–2012) Obituary

KERRY MULLAN, ISFAR French Jazz Evening

A note about the French Jazz evening held by ISFAR in late 2012.

KERRY MULLAN, Dialogues: The Melbourne French Salon 2012

A note about the establishment of a Melbourne Salon modelled on the Sydney Salon and on the evenings held during the year.

BOOK REVIEWS

Peter McPhee, Robespierre: A Revolutionary Life, reviewed by Robert Aldrich

John S. McKenzie, Images of Bodily Mechanics: The Institut Marey, Paris, 1902–1977, reviewed by Andrew Bendrups

ELAINE LEWIS, French-Australian Bibliographical Notes

Explorations – No 52 Jun 2012

IVAN BARKO, Foreword

NICOLE STARBUCK, The Colonial Field – Science, Sydney and the Baudin Expedition (1802)

A scholarly examination of the scientific achievements of the Baudin expedition during its long stay in Port Jackson in 1802.

Keywords: scientific research, natural history specimens and observations, Port Jackson, François Péron, Nicholas Baudin, Leschenault, a colonial field

COLIN NETTELBECK, Twentieth Century French Literature in Australian Universities – Teaching and Research

An examination of the changes that have occurred in modern languages departments in universities and the resulting decline in the study of contemporary French literature.

Keywords: French Studies, twentieth century French literature, Australian Research Council, post-literary era, linguistic proficiency cf literary culture, academic journals, PhD research topics

RICHARD GUNTER, Studying French at the University of Melbourne (1945–1948)

Reminiscences of a former student of the French Department ta the University of Melbourne between 1945 and 1948.

Keywords: A.R. Chisholm, the French Club, Alliance Française, plays and play readings

EDWARD DUYKER, Une Tasmanie Française
The text of a talk on the French explorers in Tasmania and light-hearted speculation on what might have happened had the French settled in Tasmania.

Keywords: Marion Dufresne, Van Diemen’s Land, D’Entrecasteaux Channel, Dumont d’Urville, Nicholas Baudin, Governor King

BRIAN NELSON, The Australian Journal of French Studies: Looking Forward

A note about the agreement between The Australian Journal of French Studies and the University of Liverpool.

Keywords: The Australian Journal of French Studies, Monash University, University of Liverpool, internationalisation, technological progress

ELAINE LEWIS, The Valéry Collection for the State Library of Victoria

A note about the acquisition of a collection of books previously owned by the poet and thinker Paul Valéry and purchased by the Library from the estate of the late Judith Robinson-Valéry, the Australian widow of Valéry’s son Claude.

Keywords: State Library of Victoria, Paul Valéry, Judith Robinson-Valéry

Book Reviews and Note

Georges-Goulven Le Cam, L’Australie au-delà du rêve, reviewed by Stephen Alomes

Ian Coller, Arab France: Islam and the Making of Modern Europe, 1798–1831, reviewed by Stephen Alomes

Richard Travers, The Tennis Courts of Lyon: Les Jeux de Paume de Lyon, note by Elaine Lewis

ELAINE LEWIS, French-Australian Bibliographical Notes