tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post8669550440002915858..comments2024-03-29T15:04:20.549+11:00Comments on ART and ARCHITECTURE, mainly: Napoleon, The Briars and the Melbourne connection: The Balcombe familyHelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-33153385575934431422015-11-09T09:52:05.442+11:002015-11-09T09:52:05.442+11:00Viola
History is never linear, is it? When I was ...Viola<br /><br />History is never linear, is it? When I was at school, Napoleon was a villain and an unstoppable threat to European peace. Later he became a great French leader and law maker (with serious flaws to be sure). Now you are correct, everyone is talking about the Balcombes and Dame Mabel, especially in Australia.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-78212440822177574382015-11-08T12:45:35.577+11:002015-11-08T12:45:35.577+11:00Hello Hels,
This was a fascinating post. Betty Bal...Hello Hels,<br />This was a fascinating post. Betty Balcombe is all the rage at the moment. I am interested in reading the new biography of her and the novel by Thomas Keneally. Also, I am thinking of buying Dame Mabel's memoirs.<br /><br />I wonder who will play Napoleons in the film?Violahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046603677301666579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-64707228010669766592015-11-07T22:22:57.648+11:002015-11-07T22:22:57.648+11:00Joseph
thank you. I hadn't heard of Keneally&...Joseph<br /><br />thank you. I hadn't heard of Keneally's interest in Saint Helena till I saw the Guardian article (4/11/2015).<br /><br />"As the political tide turns, the Balcombes, labelled as traitors to the British empire, are forced off the island. They too become exiles in the land of their birth. Their further exile to that island continent, Australia, in the guise of a government appointment for Balcombe as colonial treasurer, shows the extent of their downfall. Alienation and exile are familiar territory to Keneally, as an active member of Sydney PEN, the literary organisation promoting freedom of expression."<br /><br />http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/nov/04/napoleons-last-island-by-tom-kenneally-review-Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-56296180394701318242015-11-07T16:29:40.024+11:002015-11-07T16:29:40.024+11:00It might be worth reading the book "Napoleon&...It might be worth reading the book "Napoleon's Last Island" by Tom Keneally. <br /><br />Tom and his wife went to Saint Helena to check out his draft novel about Napoleon and the Balcombe family against the real geography and atmospherics of the island. Tom became very aware that the relationship between the Balcombes and Napoleon made an extraordinary tale, even without the spirit of fiction, stories of spying and smuggling.<br />Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07701188167981018244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-64613537040387223442015-02-16T17:17:01.562+11:002015-02-16T17:17:01.562+11:00I have added material written by the New Zealand H...I have added material written by the New Zealand Herald in 2010.<br /><br />The Napoleonic collection was handed down via the son of Denzil Ibbetson, a talented artist and chief commissary officer on the Atlantic island of St Helena, where Napoleon remained under British detention from 1815 until his death in 1821 aged 51. The son arrived in New Zealand in 1864. <br /><br />http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10647694Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-53118192644450712312014-04-16T10:36:08.547+10:002014-04-16T10:36:08.547+10:00What a sad story. What are thieves going to do wit...What a sad story. What are thieves going to do with Napoleon's hair, ring and snuff box etc? They won't be able to sell the artefects, so they will have to simply look at them and admire them :(Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-80398838345028315052014-04-16T10:33:42.362+10:002014-04-16T10:33:42.362+10:00Thieves entered The Briars historic homestead thro...Thieves entered The Briars historic homestead through bathroom window. Ten items in total were stolen this week from the priceless collection that was put together by descendants of Alexander Balcombe who met Napoleon on St Helena.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />MailOnlinehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2605304/Napoleons-hair-priceless-artefacts-belonging-French-emperor-stolen-Australian-museum.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-38955890761740490072012-05-16T21:52:31.306+10:002012-05-16T21:52:31.306+10:00Buck
nice link :) But I don't remember Napole...Buck<br /><br />nice link :) But I don't remember Napoleon being sent to St Lucia, let alone escaping from there. The only Napoleonic connection I can find is that Josephine may have been born there, in 1763.<br /><br />Nonetheless, I am assuming Alexander Balcombe was proud of his family's connection to Napoleon.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-89924370802703619552012-05-16T14:59:21.656+10:002012-05-16T14:59:21.656+10:00There's another interesting coincidence which ...There's another interesting coincidence which I haven't seen mentioned. As is well known, Napoleon's first imprisonment was on the island of St Lucia, from which he escaped. Interesting then that one of Alexander Balcombe's daughters was christened Lucia Emily. Does this signify anything, I wonder.Buckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04398286130192184097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-25468842933799296172012-02-05T22:23:42.001+11:002012-02-05T22:23:42.001+11:00It appears from the National Gallery of Victoria t...It appears from the National Gallery of Victoria that there was another connection between Napoleoon and Australia, but not via The Briars and St Helena.<br /><br />During the happy days in Paris, Napoleon and Josephine had become great patrons of the arts, sciences and literature. Napoleon and Josephine were fascinated by Australia. This newly discovered continent, the southern part of which had been named Terre Napoleon by French navigators, filled Josephine’s hothouses with exotic new plants and flowers. Australia also furnished Josephine and Napoleon with a private menagerie of kangaroos, emus and black swans!Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-24964348349025846132012-01-13T03:05:05.117+11:002012-01-13T03:05:05.117+11:00Carol,
Even if it turns out that you are not rela...Carol,<br /><br />Even if it turns out that you are not related to William Balcombe, his daughter Betsy, his son Alexander, Napoleon and Dame Mabel Brooks, the story is still amazing. <br /><br />If you come to Melbourne, do visit The Briars homestead, the museum where you can see the Dame Mabel Brookes Napoleonic Collection.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-2235280594873718492012-01-13T02:44:57.723+11:002012-01-13T02:44:57.723+11:00I was intrigued by this,and found it all very inte...I was intrigued by this,and found it all very interesting, particularly the name Balcombe. It did turn out to be a different spelling from my name.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241487321588907829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-28594164870335807912012-01-05T10:35:35.822+11:002012-01-05T10:35:35.822+11:00Anonymous
I would be annoyed too... it takes ages...Anonymous<br /><br />I would be annoyed too... it takes ages to drive to The Briars. You could have rung The Briars before leaving home, I suppose, but if it says it is open every day of the year except Christmas and Easter, who would bother checking?<br /><br />The booklets are cheaply produced but the text is indeed wonderful. One out-building I hope you found was the barn - it now houses a gorgeous restaurant.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-43752628721800205422012-01-05T09:28:14.309+11:002012-01-05T09:28:14.309+11:00I followed your suggestion in class and went to se...I followed your suggestion in class and went to see The Briars. It was advertised as open but because no guide turned up, they closed the house to visitors. Not at all pleased!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />All the outbuildings were interesting and I did get a super little book on the "Balcombe Family and The Briars Park".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-15447712353383359652011-12-19T14:18:42.830+11:002011-12-19T14:18:42.830+11:00Nicholas
"unexpected" is the correct wo...Nicholas<br /><br />"unexpected" is the correct word. What is the chance that the most powerful man on earth, French Emperor Napoleon, would live temporarily in the back yard pavilion of a particular British family, waiting for his house on Saint Helena Island to become ready? <br /><br />Then that British family moves to Sydney, then Melbourne, and brings their artefacts with them?<br /><br />What is the chance that one of the best private collections of Napoleonic artefacts be collected in Melbourne by Michael Kroger? And the same month that I write up my blog is the very same month that the Melbourne collection goes to Paris for auction?<br /><br />I think I should buy a ticket in Tatts!Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-54953032772527289362011-12-19T11:29:53.254+11:002011-12-19T11:29:53.254+11:00What an amazing network of unexpected connections ...What an amazing network of unexpected connections one can find if one searches through the literature and historical documents relating to famous peoples lives. The story you describe could certainly make good material for a novel or a film, Helen.Intellibloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04262938291462934103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-72662087270659008672011-12-14T20:33:11.447+11:002011-12-14T20:33:11.447+11:00Pat
Tim Wonnacott got me thinking about Napoleon,...Pat<br /><br />Tim Wonnacott got me thinking about Napoleon, about those artefacts that got to Australia and those that remained in Europe. Amazingly I found a connection to Port Sunlight and Lady Lever Art Gallery, a place we had looked at in classes during the year.<br /><br />I have added a link.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-85432128532502586752011-12-14T13:12:37.764+11:002011-12-14T13:12:37.764+11:00I saw Tim Wonnacott on tv as well. The Briars has ...I saw Tim Wonnacott on tv as well. The Briars has a great cafe which my family visits often.Patnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-13012065086026737032011-12-13T21:14:30.529+11:002011-12-13T21:14:30.529+11:00Leon and Sue
that is amazing. Balcombe hill... B...Leon and Sue<br /><br />that is amazing. Balcombe hill... Balcombe army camp... I feel as if I don't know my own city. But that will be changed as soon as the grandchildren break up for the summer holidays. We are planning an excursion! <br /><br />Your area is indeed very rich in early Victorian history.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-56940305879231617322011-12-13T21:09:19.313+11:002011-12-13T21:09:19.313+11:00Jane and Lance
sometimes the most weird things ha...Jane and Lance<br /><br />sometimes the most weird things happen. Tonight I was watching Tim Wonnacott on tv and he showed a triangular silver inkwell with a French gold coin set in each corner. The coins had been in Napoleon's pocket when he died on St Helena Island. <br /><br />The governor of St Helena emptied Napoleon's pockets and sent the gold coins to London. A silver smith crafted a beautiful object, using the "Napoleons", which then found its way to Melbourne with the Balcombe family.<br /><br />Today the inkwell sits, improbably, on the desk at The Briars. It is the pride and joy of Dame Mabel Brookes Napoleonic Collection.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-75638707757654514802011-12-13T21:01:44.890+11:002011-12-13T21:01:44.890+11:00Hels,
Sue and I live in Mentone around the corner ...Hels,<br />Sue and I live in Mentone around the corner from Nepean Highway and Balcombe Rd. During the time you write about, this junction once had a paddock where the sheep on the way to the Briars would be rested. We have enjoyed a family wedding at the Briars as well. Several of my training (bike) rides take me over Balcombe hill where the Balcombe army camp once was. My father was stationed there during the war.<br />After the war several motor racing events were held at the camp. Its documented in a book I wrote "Rob Roy Hillclimb" linked to our blog.<br />Great post - thankyou.<br />An area rich in early Victorian history.Leon Simshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17609891995057827081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-14179329262828783462011-12-13T20:53:43.343+11:002011-12-13T20:53:43.343+11:00Hermes
When Dame Mabel Balcombe Brookes' book...Hermes<br /><br />When Dame Mabel Balcombe Brookes' book, "The St Helena Story", came out in 1960, I was more interested in hockey and ballet than in Napoleonic history.<br /><br />But Betsy Balcome Abell's book "To Befriend an Emperor: Betsy Balcombe's Memoirs of Napoleon on St Helena" has been published at just the right time.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-1251355683984374832011-12-13T20:50:07.623+11:002011-12-13T20:50:07.623+11:00Andrew
You had visited The Briars and knew of Bal...Andrew<br /><br />You had visited The Briars and knew of Balcombe Road, Creek and School, but never put it all together. <br /><br />I had known all about Napoleon on St Helena but didn't know the name The Briars, not on St Helena nor in Melbourne. So the connection escaped me also.<br /><br />Sometimes blogging is brilliant!<br /><br />You said in your post that The Melbourne Briars looked wonderful. Do you have any interior photos you might share?Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-2115321449007602632011-12-13T19:25:59.798+11:002011-12-13T19:25:59.798+11:00Hello Helen:
As Hermes says, what a fascinating an...Hello Helen:<br />As Hermes says, what a fascinating and most intriguing account in which all manner of most unlikely connections are made. We find the ways in which history crosses so many different paths endlessly absorbing and so enjoy discovering how, very often, totally disparate people and events are linked.Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-27739749458340353012011-12-13T17:54:40.761+11:002011-12-13T17:54:40.761+11:00Can't add to this, what a fascinating by way o...Can't add to this, what a fascinating by way of history. Fascinating.Hermeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00968366076064269729noreply@blogger.com