Clemenceau at Musée Guimet

Pierre and I went to an exhibit about Georges Clemenceau.

Georges Benjamin Clemenceau (28 September 1841 – 24 November 1929) was a French statesman who led the nation in the First World War. A leader of the Radical Party, he played a central role in politics during the Third Republic. Clemenceau served as the Prime Minister of France from 1906 to 1909, and again from 1917 to 1920. He was one of the principal architects of the Treaty of Versailles at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. Nicknamed "Père la Victoire" (Father Victory) or "Le Tigre" (The Tiger),

Clemenceau was a fascinating man and I am sure my Grandpa Brown would have had a thing or two to say about him.

In Paris, the young Clemenceau became a political activist and writer. In December 1861, he co-founded a weekly newsletter, Le Travail, along with some friends. On 23 February 1862, he was arrested by the police for having placed posters summoning a demonstration. He spent 77 days in the Mazas Prison.
He graduated as a doctor on 13 May 1865, founded several literary magazines, and wrote many articles, most of which attacked the imperial regime of Napoleon III. Clemenceau left France for the United States when the Imperial agents began cracking down on dissidents, sending most of them to the bagne de Cayennes (Devil's Island Penal System) in French Guiana.
Clemenceau worked in New York City 1865-69, following the American Civil War. He maintained a medical office but spent much of his time on political journalism for a Parisian newspaper. He took a post teaching French and horseback riding at a private girls' school in Stamford, Connecticut.

And that was all before he became prime minister.

Clemenceau collected boxes that were used in Japanese tea ceremonies.  He was also involved in creating Musée d'Ennery and Musée Guimet.  He also had a few netsuke.

In 1891, Clemenceau took part in a Buddhist ceremony in the library of the Musée Guimet.

Collectors of the time published large vanity catalogues to show everyone what they owned.  

Clemenceau was right in the middle of "le japonisme" and admired and collected Asian art .  However, his interest went beyone art and collecting.

After he retired, he travelled extensively in Asia.

Le Jardin d e Clemenceau by Blanche Hoschedé-Monet (Monet's pupil and step-daughter)

Clemenceau was good friends with Monet.  It was Clemenceau's idea to have Monet paint the enormous waterlily paintings that are now in Musée de l'Orangerie.

His house, which is in our neighborhood, has been turned into a museum.  Pierre has visited, but I have not yet been.