Why does this Parisian street carry the name Rue Jules Lecomte? It’s a tribute to two notable French figures.
Let’s delve into their stories. This place is named in honor of Jules Lecomte. He was a 19th-century French novelist and journalist. He was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Lecomte died in Paris in 1864.
Lecomte was a very active man of letters. He possessed wit and facility. He was a playwright, novelist, and journalist. His chronicles were highly sought after. He gained a reputation through his “courriers de Paris”. These were published in L’Indépendance belge.
His first column for the Monde illustré was in 1857. This was almost seven years before his death. He never once failed in his task. Sometimes his health required him to travel. He visited various spa towns in France and Germany. There he found part of Parisian society. He gathered modern anecdotes for his column. Readers never suspected his absences. The journal trusted his regularity. They never worried even when he was far from the capital.
For him, life was summed up in his column. He dedicated himself to it. He made it significant. A word said at the right time always hit its mark. He had a foot in the most eminent salons. He knew all the rumors and scandals. He weighed in on serious resolutions. The most influential people of his time inadvertently contributed to his work.
His correspondence was enormous. He was consulted on the most delicate matters. He personally responded to anything deserving interest. He used the newspaper for less immediate concerns. The journal strived to increase its appeal. They multiplied correspondents. They hired new, talented designers. Lecomte also increased his attention to detail.
Lecomte died almost pen in hand. On the day of his death, his column still appeared. It was signed by his name. His colleague from the Monde illustré completed it. His hand refused to hold the pen. During his painful illness, his duty as a columnist was his constant worry. He opened his mail. With a trembling hand, he wrote the necessary responses. Four hours before his last breath, he asked Albéric Second. Second had not left his bedside. He asked if anyone had come for his column. Second had to invent a pious trick to reassure him.
Shortly after, he worried about the Grand Journal’s interests. He advised his editor to vary the publication’s uniform character. He found its appearance a bit monotonous. A few hours later, he breathed his last.
In literature, he debuted in 1835. He wrote the Dictionnaire pittoresque de marine. This was followed by maritime novels. These included l’Abordage, l’Ile de la tortue, le capitaine Sabord, and le Mort vivant. His work la Charité à Paris received the 1861 Montyon Prize. This came from the Académie française. In theater, his most important play was a comedy in four acts. It was titled le Luxe. It was performed at the Théâtre-Français.
He also wrote pamphlets under the name Van Engelgom. These included Lettres sur les écrivains français. Under the name Jules Du Camp, he wrote historical works. These included Histoire de la Révolution de Février and Les Pontons anglais. He also co-authored Chroniques de la marine française. He also wrote the series Des cantatrices françaises en Italie.
He was a member of the Société des auteurs dramatiques. He also belonged to the Société des gens de lettres. He sat on its committee by right of election. Of a sickly temperament, he succumbed to a chest ailment. It was complicated by a liver disease after a relatively short period of acute illness. His funeral took place at the Église de la Trinité. It was attended by many writers, theater people, and senior administrators. They accompanied him to the Montmartre cemetery. Several speeches were delivered there.
This street is also possibly connected to Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Nouÿ. He was an Orientalist French painter and sculptor. He found inspiration through travels to Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Romania, and Italy. Lecomte du Nouÿ remained faithful to his realistic style. A Parisian street was named after him in 1932.
So, as you walk along Rue Jules Lecomte, remember these artists. Think of their contributions to French culture. Their legacies live on in this Parisian street.