Bette Oliver’s book From Royal to National offers a comprehensive and innovative look into the effects of the French Revolution on the nation’s culture and identity. As a direct result of the Revolution of 1789, institutions previously under the crown’s jurisdiction were made into public symbols of nationalism. Through the creation of both the Louvre and the Bibliotheque Nationale, the Revolutionary Government worked to preserve great cultural works and establish Paris as the cultural epicenter of the Western world.
Oliver delicately reveals the foresight and challenges these scholars and specialists faced in safeguarding the valuable artworks and literature from various raiding parties, including repeated attempts at vandalism and the Terror of 1793-4. From Royal to National is a rich text that will resonate among students of French culture, as well as those interested in dynamics of art history.