Voyages pittoresques et romantiques dans l’ancienne France. Normandie (1820–1821): a specific genre of travel literature in the Stroganovs’ family library

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article presents a case study of a collection of prints titled Voyages pittoresques et romantiques dans l’ancienne France. Normandie (1820–1821) that is housed in the Research Library at Tomsk State University as part of the Stroganovs’ family library. The edition is considered as an example of the genre of “voyages pittoresque” (pictorial journey). The genre encompasses two varieties: a scientific and an artistic literary journey. Both involve two modes of expression: a pictorial and a textual one, with the latter incorporating such structural elements as descriptions of geography, history, exterior and interior images of cities, towns, temples and castles, mentions of local legends and works of fiction, as well as first-hand impressions of travellers during their visits to the area. The core of the text is a myth about a confrontation between time and culture, revealing itself in history and architecture, visual perception of history and description of “les lieux de mémoire”.