From the History of the Decipherment of West Semitic Writing: Events and People. VII. Barthélemy-Orientalist: Between Scholarship and High Society. Part III

Abstract

The article is the third essay on the life and scholarly activity of the outstanding French scholar Abbоt J.-J. Barthlemy as part of a series of publications on the history of the decipherment of West Semitic writing (events and people). The essay examines the circumstances of Barthlemys appointment in September 1753 to the post of the Keeper of the Royal Cabinet of Medals. This event, long awaited by the abbot, became possible with the help and mediation of Marquis de Gonto and Comte de Stanville, both close to Marquise de Pompadour. Some events that led to the rapprochement of the influential mistress of the king with Comte de Stanville may, in a sense, be regarded as a background to this important appointment for Barthlemy. This Barthlemys appointment to a new post was the occasion for his personal acquaintance with de Stanville family, with whom the abbot would associate for the rest of his life and to which, by his own admission, he would sacrifice his scholarly career and the name that he could have in scholarship.