Commission des Sciences et des Arts facts for kids
The Commission des Sciences et des Arts (which means Commission of the Sciences and Arts) was a special group of French scientists and artists. It was created on March 16, 1798. This group had 167 members. Most of them joined Napoleon Bonaparte when he went to Egypt. Their main goal was to study Egypt and its history. They also helped create a huge book series called Description de l'Égypte. This series was published in 37 books from 1809 to about 1829.
What Was the Commission of Sciences and Arts?
The Commission was like a team of experts. More than half of its members were engineers and technicians. This included 21 mathematicians, 3 astronomers, and 17 civil engineers. There were also 13 naturalists and mining engineers, and some geographers. Other members included 3 gunpowder engineers, 4 architects, and 8 artists. There were also 10 mechanical artists, 1 sculptor, and 15 interpreters. The group also had 10 writers and 22 printers. These printers worked with Latin, Greek, and Arabic letters.
Napoleon Bonaparte organized this scientific group like an army. He divided its members into 5 different types. Each member was given a military rank and a specific military job. This was in addition to their scientific work. For example, they helped with supplies or finding places to stay.
Who Were Some Members?
Some members of the Commission are still famous today. These include Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Gaspard Monge, and Vivant Denon. Many others are not as well-known now. Some members later joined another important group called the Institut d'Egypte.
Here are a few examples of the people who were part of this amazing team:
- Pierre-Onésime Adnès (1760–1819), a mechanic
- Antoine-Vincent Arnault (1766–1834), a writer
- Charles-Louis Balzac (1752–1820), an architect
- Claude Louis Berthollet (1748–1822), a chemist
- Jean-Baptiste Pierre Boudet (1748–1828), the chief pharmacist
- Jean-Jacques Castex (1731–1822), a sculptor
- Nicolas-Jacques Conté (1755–1805), who directed the mechanics
- Dominique Vivant Denon (1747–1825), a writer and artist
- Antoine Dubois (1756–1837), a doctor
- André Dutertre (1753–1842), a painter
- Joseph Fourier (1768–1830), a mathematician
- Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1772–1844), a naturalist
- Pierre Jacotin (1765–1827), a geographical engineer
- Edme François Jomard (1777–1862), a geographical engineer and archaeologist
- Jean-Joseph Marcel (1776–1854), who directed the printers
- Gaspard Monge (1746–1818), a mathematician
- Nicolas-Antoine Nouet (1740–1811), an astronomer
- François Pouqueville (1770–1838), a surgeon
- Henri-Joseph Redouté (1766–1852), a painter
- Marie Jules César Lelorgne de Savigny (1777–1851), a zoologist
- Guillaume André Villoteau (1759–1839), a music expert
