AU101 --- Montmartre Through The Ages: A Privileged Setting For Religion, History and Art

By Isabelle Pepin

Through an immersion in the dense and fascinating history of Montmartre, we will see how the privileged position of the so-called “sacred hill” and its natural resources determined its development over the centuries.

How did Montmartre evolve from the important Gallo-Roman sanctuary to the extensive and powerful Royal Abbey founded by a Queen of France?

How did the French Revolution affect Montmartre? From the Abbey to the rural/suburban village, Montmartre becomes, in the XIXth century, a hometown for workmen, thieves and especially for avant-garde artists.

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Isabelle Pepin is a Franco-American who was born and raised in Versailles. In 2006, she received her PhD in Etruscan art from the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes. During her studies, she spent several years in Italy: Siena and Florence, where she prepared her Master’s degree.  And, while on a scholarship at the Ecole française de Rome she worked on her PhD thesis. In addition to teaching at the University of Paris VIII, Isabelle has experience as a Communications Manager for art book publishers and translating documentaries for French television. As a docent, she enjoys sharing her passion for Paris, its art and its history, with visitors, family and friends. She is also an active member of the Montmartre Historical Society where she works in the archives.