Isn’t it amazing that a single place can embody so much history? Right here we are at Quai Adrien Mentienne.
Let me tell you about Adrien Mentienne. He was more than just a name on a sign. Born in 1841 in Bry-sur-Marne, he was deeply rooted in the community. His family had a history of municipal service. His great-uncle was even the first mayor of the municipality in 1790.
Adrien followed in their footsteps. At just 27, he became the mayor of Bry. He left behind detailed records which provide valuable insights into the history of the Île-de-France. His writings also shed light on the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Besides his mayorship from 1868 to 1881, he served as a municipal councillor from 1883 to 1892 and again from 1908 to 1912.
He was a man of many talents. He was also an entrepreneur in masonry and a passionate historian and archaeologist. His archaeological work led to the discovery of a Gallo-Roman cemetery. Other excavations unearthed numerous remains. Some of these items were displayed at the Musée Carnavalet in Paris. Now they are in the municipal museum.
Mentienne co-founded the Compagnie des Chemins de fer nogentais. He authored several books about the region’s history. This earned him a membership in the Commission du Vieux Paris and other scholarly societies. He also wrote about the history of photography because he was a friend of Louis Daguerre’s family. In 1919, he was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur.
Adrien Mentienne’s passion extended to the arts and culture. The Musée Adrien Mentienne was created in 1973. It was named in his honor. Mentienne had donated his first collection to the town. The museum received the Musée de France label in 2003.
The Musée Adrien Mentienne holds over 2,000 works. These works relate to local history, local artists and the invention of photography. The museum’s collections cover a range of periods. They include protohistoric, Gallo-Roman and early Christian artifacts. There are also medieval objects like Merovingian weapons and jewelry.
The museum also has military collections related to the Franco-Prussian War. You’ll find weapons, photographs, prints and documents. Art collections include paintings from the 18th to 20th centuries. There are also posters by Julien Lacaze. A collection is dedicated to Louis Daguerre. He invented the diorama and the daguerreotype. The only preserved diorama is in the Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais church. The Maurice Joron collection features works by the artist. It also includes items related to his family history.
Mentienne died in Bry in 1927. He was 86 years old. He passed away at the Hôtel de Malestroit which he owned. As you stand here on Quai Adrien Mentienne, remember the man who dedicated his life to Bry-sur-Marne. His legacy lives on through his work. It also continues through the museum that bears his name.