Henri Girault De Nolhac Paintings

Henri Girault de Nolhac, born Pierre Girault on December 28, 1859, in Ambert, France, was a distinguished French art historian, poet, and a prominent scholar of the Italian Renaissance. He is perhaps best known for his role as the curator of the Palace of Versailles, where he dedicated a significant portion of his career to the preservation and restoration of the palace, as well as to the study of its history.

Girault de Nolhac attended the École des Chartes, where he received his degree in 1883. This prestigious institution trained archivists and librarians in France, and it was here that Nolhac sharpened his skills in historical research, a foundation that would be integral to his later work. In 1887, he began his tenure at the Palace of Versailles, initially appointed as an assistant curator. His passion and dedication to Versailles led to his eventual promotion to the position of chief curator, which he held from 1910 until his retirement in 1920.

Throughout his career, Girault de Nolhac played a pivotal role in transforming Versailles from a neglected and dilapidated palace into a national museum dedicated to the history of France. He oversaw restorations, organized the palace's vast collections, and was instrumental in acquiring important works of art and furniture that had been dispersed during the French Revolution.

In addition to his curatorial work, Girault de Nolhac was a prolific writer, penning numerous books and articles on the art and history of Versailles, as well as on the Italian Renaissance. His scholarly works include 'La Reine Marie-Antoinette' (1890), which is considered one of his masterpieces, and 'Le Versailles de Louis XIV' (1901). His research contributed significantly to the academic understanding of the period and cemented his reputation as an authority on the subject.

Girault de Nolhac also had a deep interest in literature and poetry. He was connected to literary circles of his time and published several volumes of his own poetry. His literary output reflects his dual passion for both history and the arts.

Upon his retirement, Girault de Nolhac continued to write and engage in scholarly pursuits. His dedication to art history and his contributions to the cultural heritage of France were recognized by his election to the Académie française in 1935, a year before his death. Henri Girault de Nolhac passed away on January 13, 1936, leaving behind a legacy as a passionate conservator of history and a devoted scholar of Renaissance art.