THE LUNGS OF PARIS: Gardens of The Second Empire with Sylvia Sagona

When Napoleon III swept to power in 1851 his first priority was to create a healthy and secure city out of the dark mediaeval labyrinth of central Paris. Nostalgically recalling his years of exile in London, Napoleon III dotted the city with ‘squares’, created whimsical gardens for the bourgeoisie and workers and showcased exotic species at the Serres d’Auteuil.

In this presentation we will examine the political and aesthetic ideas behind the idealistic greening of Paris and the images that have been left by the Impressionists and writers of the time.

SYLVIA SAGONA is an internationally recognised specialist on 19th century French society. She retired from the French Department at the University of Melbourne to work on historical documentaries for French and Australian television and is currently researching a book on Parisian women in the 19th century.