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Charles Lenormant (1 June 1802,Paris – 22 November 1859,Athens) was a Frencharchaeologist.
After pursuing his studies at the Lycée Charlemagne and the Lycée Napoléon, he took up law, but a visit toItaly andSicily (1822–23) made him an enthusiastic archaeologist. In 1825 he was named sub-inspector of fine arts and a few months later married Amelia Syvoct, niece and adopted daughter of the celebratedMme Récamier. He visited Italy,Belgium, and theNetherlands, and accompaniedJean-François Champollion toEgypt in July 1828, where he devoted himself to the study ofarchitectural works.
Later, in March 1829, he travelled throughGreece as assistant director of the archaeological department of theMorea scientific expedition. On his return he was appointed curator of the works of art in the Royal Library. Although the chair was that of modern history, helectured chiefly on ancient history, particularly the origins of Greek civilization. In 1836 he was appointed curator of printed books in the Royal Library, and in 1839 was elected a member of the Academy. In 1840 he was made curator of the Cabinet of Medals.
François Guizot, who became minister of foreign affairs in 1841, sent Lenormant on a mission to Greece. On returning from this second visit to the East, Lenormant continued his lectures at theSorbonne, making a particular study ofChristian civilization in its sources. This study made him a true Christian, and from that time his lectures bore the impression of his deep Catholic belief. He gave voice to his convictions in hisQuestions historiques (Paris 1845), in his work on theAssociations religieuses dans la société chrétienne (Paris 1866), and in many articles in the French Catholic reviewCorrespondant. His writings greatly influenced the much-discussed question of freedom of teaching (liberté d'enseignement).
In 1846, the students of the Sorbonne, in retaliation for his part in the suppression ofEdgar Quinet's chair, compelled Lenormant to give up his professorship; he was then given the editorship of theCorrespondent, which be resigned in 1855. In 1848 he was named director of the commission of historical monuments, and in 1849 an almost unanimous vote of the members of the Academy appointed him to the chair of archaeology in theCollège de France. From that time he devoted himself entirely to the teaching of Egyptian archaeology. He died while on an expedition undertaken for the sake of initiating his son into the knowledge of the monuments of antiquity. His grave is on theColonus hilltop in Athens next to that ofKarl Otfried Müller.[1]
Many articles from the pen of Lenormant appeared in theAnnales de l'Institut archéologique de Rome, theMémoires de l'Académie des Inscriptions, theRevue de Numismatique, and theCorrespondant. His chief independently published works are:
along with two valuable collections:
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Charles Lenormant".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.| Preceded by | Chair of Archeology at theCollège de France 1849–1859 | Succeeded by |
