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Description
This programme looks at the life of Buffon, the most important French natural historian of the 18th century. Director of the Jardin du Roi in Paris, and author of an Histoire Naturelle in more than... thirty volumes, Buffon combined the elegance of an 18th century gentleman with the thoroughness and practicality of a rigorous scientist. His sense of style made him famous in his own lifetime and his qualities as a scientist paved the way for 19th century thinkers such as Darwin. The programme includes film of Buffon's house and gardens at Montbard and of his ironworks at the nearby village of Buffon, as well as many illustrations from his Histoire Naturelle.
This programme looks at the life of Buffon, the most important French natural historian of the 18th century. Director of the Jardin du Roi in Paris, and author of an Histoire Naturelle in more than... thirty volumes, Buffon combined the elegance of an 18th century gentleman with the thoroughness and practicality of a rigorous scientist. His sense of style made him famous in his own lifetime and his qualities as a scientist paved the way for 19th century thinkers such as Darwin. The programme includes film of Buffon's house and gardens at Montbard and of his ironworks at the nearby village of Buffon, as well as many illustrations from his Histoire Naturelle.
| Module code and title: | A204, The Enlightenment |
|---|---|
| Item code: | A204; 09 |
| First transmission date: | 19-06-1980 |
| Published: | 1980 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:00 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Robert Philip |
| Contributor: | Jacques Roger |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Ironworks; Jardin du Roi, Paris; Montbard; Natural history |
| Subject terms: | Buffon, Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de |
| Footage description: | The programme opens with a portrait of Buffon, then shows 18th century paintings of the King's Garden in Paris. Jacques Roger, Professor of the History of Science at the University of Paris describes in voice over Buffon's appointment to the post of director of the King's Garden. He also explains that Buffon worked mostly at his estate at Montbard, which is shown on a print. Sean Barrett reads Herault de Sechelles' description of Buffon's house at Montbard over film of same. From outside the house Roger describes Buffon's control of his estates. Roger is seen walking through the estate to Buffon's isolated study. In voice over Herault de Sechelles' description of Buffon's appearance and his working routine are read. From inside the study Roger describes how Buffon organised his scientific work. Details of the furnishings in the study are shown, with Herault de Sechelles description of Buffon at work quoted over. The title page and various illustrations from Buffon's Histoire Naturelle are shown, over which Roger describes the style of the work and its audience. Buffon's comparison of a swan with an enlightened despot is quoted. Over illustations of a bat skeleton and a horse gut Roger descrbes Buffon's meticulous scientific method. A print of Buffon's composite mirror is shown and his Archimedes experiment described. Roger describes in detail Buffon's experiments with seminal fluid. In the studio he uses a microscope similar to Buffon's to reveal peculiarities in Buffon's results. Engravings depict Buffon's experiments with wood and iron. In voice over Roger describes these experiments and Buffon's iron business. In the studio he uses a model to show the original appearance of Buffon's iron works at Montbard. From the entrance to the works Roger describes the extent of the works in the 18th century. Film of a variety of buildings within the iron work. From the works Roger comments briefly on the accommodation buildings, then on the forges, where the iron making process is described. Over stills of the entrance to the forges Humbert-Bazile's enthusiastic description of the forges in action is quoted. Prints show the iron making process. From the site Roger describes the operation of the water wheels and explains why Buffon eventually lost interest inhis iron works. Shots of the title page of Epoques de la Nature, then of illustrations from the book showing fossilised teeth. Buffon's conclusions about extinct mammals are quoted over. Over a portrait of Buffon and a still of his Paris house Roger describes Buffon's fame in 18th century Europe. From the Montbard study he concludes with a brief assessment of Buffon's achievements. |
| Production number: | FOUA047F |
| Videofinder number: | 4937 |
| Available to public: | no |
