Charles de Spoelberch de Lovenjoul (1836-1907) : biographie
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Abstract EN:
Viscount Charles de Spoelberch de Lovenjoul (1836-1907) was born in a long standing family of the Belgian aristocracy, when Belgium was a recent State closely linked to France. His liking for romantic literature, revealed, developed and turned into account by Michel Lévy, brought him to set up the most important "archive" of romantic printed and manuscript books, newspapers and iconographic documents, which he purchased by various ways. He bought them during public auctions, or using his widely developed network of relationships. Lovenjoul intended that his library should be a support for scholarly research: he published several studies on Balzac, Sand, Gautier, and opened his collections to scholars. At the end of his life, health worries, deaths in his family, many entreaties due to his fame made him more bitter, as he felt unable to manage all of his projects. But he could enjoy a latest happiness before he died: Institut de France accepted the legacy of his literary collection, so that his name and collection are still brilliant shining among the scholars.
Abstract FR:
Issu d'une ancienne famille de l'aristocratie flamande, le vicomte Charles de Spoelberch de Lovenjoul (1836-1907) naquit dans un État récent, étroitement lié à la France. Son goût pour la littérature romantique, découvert, développé et mis à profit par Michel Lévy, l'amena à constituer une riche collection de livres, manuscrits, journaux et documents iconographiques, réunis grâce à des achats sur le marché, à des démarches auprès de particuliers et à la mise en œuvre d'un vaste réseau de relations. Consacrée exclusivement aux lettres de son temps, la bibliothèque servit de support aux travaux érudits du vicomte, qui l'ouvrit aussi aux chercheurs. La fin de la vie de Lovenjoul, marquée par des soucis de santé, la mort de sa femme, d'innombrables sollicitations témoins de sa renommée, et l'amer sentiment de ne pouvoir suffire à tous ses projets, fut illuminée d'une dernière joie : l'acceptation de son legs par l'Institut de France. Aussi son nom et sa collection brillent-ils encore d'un vif éclat.