Verses by Bernard
Identifiers
CMV:
VERSES-BY-BERNARD
Shelfmark:
5-240 (II, f.91-91v), ‘Vers du petit Bernard’
Title:
Verses by Bernard
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Content
Incipit Diplomatic:
Rien n’est si beau
Incipit Modernised:
Rien n’est si beau
Language(s):
In Own Hand:
Partly
Brief Summary:
The manuscript is an autograph poem by Bernard addressed to Voltaire, titled ‘Vers du petit Bernard’ in Voltaire’s hand.
Detailed Summary:
The manuscript is a five-line poem titled ‘Le Hameau’. The verses celebrate the speaker’s idyllic village, describing it as the most beautiful place imaginable. They express a deep appreciation for the charming scenery and picturesque landscape, which they believe is ideal for Watteau’s paintings.
Voltaire responded to these verses in the same metre in his letter to M.Berger, written from the Château de Cirey and dated 29 January 1736 [D998].
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
1 f.
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Binding:
The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.
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History
Date:
Ownership:
After Voltaire’s death, the MS passed into the ownership of Catherine II and remained in the imperial and then national collection thereafter.
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Provenance:
This MS was probably taken to St Petersburg by Wagnière in the summer of 1779 along with the rest of Voltaire’s library.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
Fernand Caussy, Inventaire des manuscrits de la bibliothèque de Voltaire conservée à la bibliothèque impériale publique de Saint-Pétersbourg (Geneva, Slatkine reprints, 1970), p.9.
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