OMG. The Paris Biennale isn’t a biennale at all, in fact, it’s an art fair devoted to antiquities (sort of like the Antiques Roadshow, the French edition).
But besides your typical Versailles collectors and 18th century furniture dealers, this year brings a new booth by Pierre-Jean Chalençon, who is a collector of Napoleon Bonaparte artefacts. Chalençon owns over 2,000 objects from the Napoleon empire and here puts paintings, bandanas, weapons and more, on view for the weekend-long event. For those who can’t attend this year’s fair, the collector is also the owner of the Palais Vivienne, as well.
The art collector – who has been known for his eccentric style and similarity to an 1980s rock star – has also appeared on the French TV show Affaire Conclue, the literal Antiques Roadshow of France.
“To protect Napoleon is my career,” said
Chalençon to the New York Times. “Napoleon was a self-made man and I am a self-made man.”
The art collector – who has been known for his eccentric style and similarity to an 1980s rock star – has also appeared on the French TV show Affaire Conclue, the literal Antiques Roadshow of France.
“To protect Napoleon is my career,” said
Chalençon to the New York Times. “Napoleon was a self-made man and I am a self-made man.”
Text by Nadja Sayej
Photos via labiennaleparis.com, nytimes
Photos via labiennaleparis.com, nytimes
