Suivez le guide Raymond Poincaré museum The museum has been set up since 1986 in the "Clos", Raymond Poincaré's former secondary residence bequeathed to the Meuse department in 1933. An exhibition, organized in 1984 in Bar-le-Duc on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Raymond Poincaré, favoured the creation of a museum in his former place of residence. This museum was inaugurated in 1986, entirely dedicated to the figure of Raymond Poincaré and reconstructing the different facets of this little-known politician. It provides insight into a particularly important period of History. The exhibition spaces are located on the ground floor of the "Clos". The first section is dedicated to Raymond Poincaré’s childhood and education, the second illustrates his presidential mandate marked by the First World War, the third explores the universe of trenches and the fourth and final room is dedicated to how Raymond Poincaré was perceived by caricaturists. The "Clos" and its gardens were designed by Nancy-based architect Bourgon and works were completed in 1913, just before the First World War. The "Clos Poincaré" residence is typical of the holiday homes of the 19th century. Its neo-Louis XIII architecture testifies to the eclecticism which marked the Second Empire and contrasts strongly with the Art Nouveau style which Le clos apres les bombardements de la 1ère Guerre Mondiale. developed at the turn of the century in the Carte postale. department. The "Clos" experienced major destruction during the First World War and was reconstruc- ted in 1919-1920 by Raymond Poincaré. It was occupied by the Germans during the Second World War then made available to the Americans. Following the death of Madame Poincaré in 1943 and accor- ding to her husband’s wishes, the "Clos" was transformed into an orphanage from 1947 till 1981. La volière The fact that the Museum Raymond Poincaré is set up in the "Clos" provides coherence between the objects and their setting. The visitor is able to discover objects connected to the man’s life, whilst exploring the very place where he lived. The visit starts in the room to the right of the reception. Vue des parterres avant la tempête de 1999 First section : Childhood and education Childhood Raymond Poincaré was born on August 20th, 1860 in Bar-le-Duc. He was the eldest son of Antoine Poincaré, the Nancy-born civil Laure COUTAN- MONTORGUEIL engineer, and Nanine Marie Ficatier. As shown in his family tree, he Buste de Raymond comes from a wealthy bourgeois family, with strong roots in Poincaré, bronze, 1912 Lorraine several centuries deep. The 1870 war and the Prussian occupation forced the Poincaré family to take refuge in Dieppe for several months. These events marked Raymond Poincaré profoundly and he kept record of them in his childhood diary. He began his studies at the Bar-le-Duc lycée then pursued his educa- tion at the Louis le Grand lycée in Paris. Initially, he turned to literary studies, obtaining a literature degree aged 18. Following his military service in Nancy, he resumed his studies and obtained a Georges BERTRAND Portrait d’Henriette doctorate of law in 1883. Poincaré (son épouse) Huile sur toile, 1913 Suivez le guide The jurist In 1883, he started working at Maître Dubuit’s law firm. His great integrity earned him the nickname “blanche hermine” (ermine white). In parallel to his profession as a jurist, Raymond Poincaré started a political career. The elected politician In January, 1886, Jules Develle, Minister of Agriculture from Meuse, offered him the position of principal private secretary in his ministry. A few months later, in March 1886, he encouraged him to run for the mandate of regional councillor of Pierrefite-sur-Aire. Raymond Poincaré won the election and kept his mandate until his death in 1934. In 1893, he was appointed Minister of State Education, Fine art and Religion and a year later became Minister of Finance. During the periods of conflict in the history of the IIIrd Republic, notably during the Dreyfus affair, Raymond Poincaré often stood back, concerned for his image as a man of consensus. In 1912, he was called to form a new government in which he held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs. The writer Raymond Poincaré was also a man of literature. He became a member of the French Academy in 1909. His writing can be grouped into two major sections. Firstly, the works of his youth, consisting of a few novels published in the local press under the alias of Juliette Landry, legal chronicles and press articles. Secondly, the works from the end of his life in which he combined R. COUVEGNES his own memoirs with History. Between 1926 and 1933 he wrote Portrait de R.Poincaré de profil, Au service de la France, his memoirs in 10 volumes. médaille en bas-relief, argent, 1950 Sampigny The "Clos" in Sampigny was a particularly important place for Raymond Poincaré. Photos of the building bear witness to significant destruction that it had undergone during the First World War. The emblematic pieces of furniture in the house were preserved. Raymond Poincaré's desk is exhibited in this room. The visit continues in the room to the left of the reception: this is the former dining room. Second section : Président of the Républic (1913-1920) During the first two years of his seven-year term, Raymond Poincaré made many diplomatic trips, notably to Russia or England, in the course of which he received numerous honorary decorations. Most of them are exhibited in this room, accompanied by numerous photographic reproductions. Raymond Poincaré, a man of action, tried to compensate for the little power conferred to him by the rd Constitution of the III Republic with his travels. The start of the First World War marked a crucial turning point in his th presidential mandate. On June 28 1914, Archduke François- Ferdinand de Habsbourg, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was Poincaré Président assassinated in Sarajevo. The alliances between the different nations en 1913 triggered off the First World war. Raymond Poincaré was deeply effected by these events. On one hand, as Head of State, the responsibility of engaging his country in war weighed heavily on him. On the other hand, as a resident of the Meuse, he hadn’t forgotten the 1870 war and the impact that it had had on his native region. Photographic reproductions illustrate President Poincaré coming to the front, in his ‘chauffeur’ outfit consisting of a long cape and cap. Third section : the first world war This room is the former small lounge of the "Clos". It is dedicated entirely to the First World War. The objects exhibited evoke the front, the trenches and the propaganda which developed in the background. Three display cabinets contain objects illustrating the life of soldiers at the front and in the trenches. One of them shows the different elements of French soldier equipment: gas mask, alumi- nium mug, water canteen and tobacco pouch. Opposite this, another display cabinet shows the typical equipment of a German soldier: pair of boots, Mauser rifle with bayonet, spiked helmet, hand grenade and cartridge belt. The final display cabinet, alongside an infantry kepi, a shell and a water canteen, contains objects made by Visite au Front soldiers in the trenches. Suivez le guide Known as “trench art”, these works are particularly valuable because they testify directly to the daily life of the soldiers. The objects are made from materials that were accessible to the soldiers, essentially metal from weapons. They had an ornamental function as shown by the display: a copper vase decorated with a wreath of plants and a church facade, a paper knife and metal rings. The harsh living conditions experienced by soldiers in the trenches are also illustrated by various different prints exhibited in this room. During the war, much propaganda was developed in the background, served by the distribution of numerous posters. One of these, displayed in this room, is particularly well-known. Created by Abel Faivre in 1915, it aims to incite the French population to contribute to financing the war. The image shows a German soldier being attacked by the cockerel in the centre of a giant one-franc coin, with the slogan: "Pour la France versez votre or. L’or combat pour la Victoire". The cockerel isn’t the only symbol of France used in propaganda posters. Another poster, made for the "Second war loan" portrays Marianne, draped in the French tricolour flag and seated under La Marseillaise, Rude’s sculpture on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Coins and notes are placed at her feet by women, elderly men and children. A little girl breaking open her piggy bank is shown in the foreground. Four section : popular imagery and caricature The final room in the museum, the former kitchen of the Clos, is dedicated to the way in which Raymond Poincaré was perceived by artists and how his image was used abundantly in caricature art and popular imagery. It is organised into chronological order, from the 1913 presidential election, outbreak of war, victory, the figure of Georges Clémenceau, through to the post-war years. The election The first three display cabinets illustrate Raymond Poincaré's victory in the presidential elections of 1913 and the enthusiasm generated by his victory. The many images depicting him illustra- A. ESSART Voyage touristique du ted and boosted his popularity. Raymond Poincaré was then président Poincaré, considered by the press as the providential man. lithographie, 1913 This fervour was expressed by the distribution of his portrait in many different forms: busts, picture postcards, ashtrays, pipes, wooden silhouettes, medallions and caricatures in the press.