FPS Visit to Besançon: Boucher, Rococo and Chinoiserie

On Thursday, 13 February 2020, at 14:00, John Whitehead has arranged a special tour of the exhibition « Une des provinces du Rococo. La Chine rêvée de François Boucher » (“A Province of the Rococo: François Boucher’s Idealised China”), with the curators, Yohan Rimaud and Vincent Bastien, at the Musée des beaux-arts et d’archéologie de Besançon. The exhibition showcases the Rococo and Chinoiseries, Exotic imports and Sèvres, alongside ten cartoons made in 1742 by François Boucher for the Beauvais tapestry manufactory owned by the Musée. It focuses on the creative process of an artist, Boucher, who was able, through exceptional curiosity and inventiveness, to give birth to an original exotic repertoire and, in the words of the Goncourt brothers, « faire de la Chine une des provinces du rococo » (to make China a rococo province).
The exhibition closes 2 March 2020.
The town is a 2 + hour train ride from Paris.

Itinerary

Gare de Lyon, Paris – 6:51 am arrive at Besançon Viotte 9:30 am
N.B. change 9:05 BESANCON – F COMTE TGV – 9:15 Besançon Viotte (2 hrs 39 minutes)
To book your train tickets in advance:
https://en.oui.sncf/en/train/france/paris-region/paris

9:45 Taxis from Besançon Viotte to the Fortress/Citadel to begin a tour with John Whitehead, visit cathedral and town, and perhaps the clock museum in a 16th century townhouse:

http://www.mdt.besancon.fr/infos-pratiques/

There are later trains at 7:56am, arrives at 11:05am (3 hours)
And another at 8:18am arrive 12:09 (3 hours 51 minutes)
And a shorter train at 10:22am arrives at 13:14 (2 hours 52 minutes)

Lunch at 12:30 Bistrot La Charrette,11 rue Jean Petit, Besançon:
Three courses with a glass of wine €25
https://www.restaurantlacharrette.com/

At 14:00 tour of the exhibition « Une des provinces du Rococo. La Chine rêvée de François Boucher » (“A Province of the Rococo: François Boucher’s Idealised China”), with the curator, Yohan Rimaud, and others. Musée des beaux-arts et d’archéologie de Besançon. Free entrance.

The Museum opens at 10:00–12:00 and 14:00–18:00. http://www.mbaa.besancon.fr/

There are return train journeys at 16:56 arrives 19:38 and 17:56 arrives 20:04.

For more on the exhibition in English:
Exhibition | La Chine rêvée de François Boucher

There is also an exhibition catalogue Une des province du rococo. La Chine rêvée de François Boucher by Yohan Rimaud; Stéphane Castellucio; David Pullins; Guillaume Faroult; Jean Vittet; Françoise Joulie; Kristel Smentek; Alaistair Laing; Perrin Stein; Marie-Maure De Rochebrune; Vincent Bastien, Éditeur.

Also, on Wednesday John Whitehead has offered an informal tour of the Louvre decorative arts galleries at 4pm, we will meet inside in the Sully Wing, 1st Floor, Room 605, at the Rouen faience busts from Hamilton Palace.

If you are planning to attend, please confirm by contacting FPSmailing@gmail.com or Patricia Ferguson.