1900 Montgredien Promotional Broadside of 1900 Paris Universal Exposition

This is a c. 1900 Montgredien promotional broadside of the 1900 Paris Universal Exposition. The broadside, advertising the special-edition book L'Exposition de Paris de 1900, which was published by Montgredien in several volumes in 1900 features portraits of the most important individuals involved in creating the Exposition, a map of the Exposition grounds, and several views of the construction of some of the attractions. The map of the Exposition grounds is situated just above the center of the broadside and identifies the many pavilions and other installations attendees can visit. Some of the buildings erected for the Exposition Universelle will be familiar to modern-day visitors to the City of Light, and these include the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais, and the Pont Alexandre III. The Exposition grounds stretch from the Place de la Concorde to the Place du Trocadero on along the Seine's Right Bank, and, along the Left Bank, from the Eiffel Tower and the Champs de Mars to the Pont Alexandre III and the Esplanade des Invalides. Pavilions on the Champs de Mars are dedicated to fields of interest, such as agriculture, chemistry, education and teaching, and mines and metallurgy. The foreign pavilions line the Left Bank, while the celebrated exhibit 'Le Vieux Paris' is situated on the Right Bank, between the Trocadero and the Grand Palais.

Below the map, a view of the 'Le Vieux Paris' exhibit gives the viewer of what they will encounter: a full-scale rebuilding of Paris's history in the form of buildings from the Midde Ages until the Revolution. People in period costumes will be present and presumably interacted with visitors. Surrounding the central map and view of 'Le Vieux Paris' are portraits of the exhibition's architects and organizers and engravings of parts of the building process. Two large portraits are situated in the two top corners. The one on the left is Joseph-Antoine Bouvard, the Director of Architecture for the entire Exposition Universelle, while Alfred Picard, the General Commissioner of the Exposition, occupies the right corner. Along the left side is a portrait of Alfred Robida, the architect of 'Le Vieux Paris', and other portraits portray the architects of the Grand Palais and the Pont Alexandre III, among other buildings. The views illustrate, among other things, the celebrated electric walkway (which was much like today's moving sidewalks used in airports and other places), the construction of the Petit Palais, and the construction of the Pont Alexandre III.

Publication History and Census

This broadside was created by Montgredien and printed by Editions Crété c. 1900. Although this broadside must have been printed in some quantity, it is extremely rare today. We have been able to locate only one other surviving example which is now part of a private collection.