The Tuileries, a writers’ garden

Created during the Renaissance period by the regent Catherine de Medici, the Tuileries Garden, through its location in the heart of Paris and its political function, immediately drew writers who were keen to celebrate its splendour. The greatest names used the garden as a backdrop or even a subject, from Ronsard to Modiano, via Hugo and Zola. Writers from Normandy – among whom Corneille, Flaubert and Maupassant – placed famous scenes there, equally comical or dramatic. The conference will be punctuated with readings of extracts from a range of literary genres, some of them unexpected.

Chief curator of heritage, Emmanuelle Héran has, since 2015, been in charge of garden collections at the Louvre and the Tuileries national estate. As such, she published – in 2016 – a book entitled Au jardin des Tuilleries hier et aujourd’hui, guide du promeneur (Visitor’s guide to the Tuileries Garden, yesterday and today). Specialising in 19th century and early 20th sculpture, she was curator of sculptures at the Musée d’Orsay for thirteen years, then in charge of exhibition programmes at the Grand Palais. Author of a number of articles and books, she has also acted as commissioner for fifteen exhibitions in France and abroad, including Le Dernier Portrait Rodin/Carrière Renoir au XXe siècle and Beauté animal.

Further reading : 
– Squares, parcs et jardins de Paris, Pierre Faveton, Editions Massin, 2017
– Le jardin des Tuileries, une promenade dans un jardin royal, Hélène Hervet, L’Harmattan, 2017
– Au jardin des Tuileries hier et aujourd’hui – guide du promeneur, Emmanuelle Héran, Somogy, Les éditions du Musée du Louvre, 2016
– La belle histoire des Tuileries, Juliette Glikman, Flammarion, 2016
– Le jardin des Tuileries d’André Le Nôtre : un chef-d’œuvre pour le Roi-Soleil, Anne Allimant-Verdillon, Alexandre Gady, Somogy, 2013
– Les jardins incroyables de Le Nôtre : Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Chantilly, les Tuileries…, Beaux-Arts Editions, 2013