Figure 1. A slide of strewn diatoms, prepared by Clémence Bleuse. A similar diatom slide is illustrated in B. Bracegirdle’s ‘Microscopical Mounts and Mounters’, plate 7, slide B.
Clémence Bleuse, ca. 1890 – 1936
(Clémence Bayard-Bleuse after ca. 1931)
André Bayard, ca. 1885 – 1967
by Brian Stevenson
last updated April, 2025
Little information has been located regarding the life of Paris slide-maker Clémence Bleuse. The earliest record I located dates from 1911. During that year, she joined the Société les Naturalistes Parisiens, and was described as being a preparer of entomological specimens. This suggests a birth date of roughly 1890. At a time between 1930 and 1932, she married André Bayard, a fellow entomologist, and thereafter advertised her works under the name Bayard-Bleuse. After Clémence's death in 1936, André sold microscope slides under his own name (possibly also Clémence's work).
Figure 1.
A slide of strewn diatoms, prepared by Clémence Bleuse. A similar diatom slide is illustrated in B. Bracegirdle’s ‘Microscopical Mounts and Mounters’, plate 7, slide B.
As noted above, Bleuse joined the Société les Naturalistes Parisiens in 1911. The earliest advertisements yet identified are from 1914, giving her address as 29 Rue Lacépède (Figure 2).
Clémence joined the Société Entomologique de France in 1922. The Society's Bulletin noted that she specialized in general entomology and microscopy. Presumably, she was then preparing microscope slides in sizeable quantities.
Advertisements from 1924 and later included a footnote that she should not be confused with Mr. L. Bleuse of Rennes. Leon Bleuse (1839-1926) was a noted French entomologist. I have not discovered whether Clémence and Leon were related.
The 1925 Encyclopédie Entomologique remarked upon “les belles préparations microscopiques exécutées par Mlle C. Bleuse” (the beautiful microscopical preparations made by Miss C. Bleuse). Bleuse’s slides are relatively rare nowadays, at least in England and North America, and her few known slides are of diatoms (Figure 1, see also Bracegirdle, page 13 and plate 7-B). Perhaps there are boxes of Bleuse insect slides in France that have not been made widely available?
The 1930 Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France listed Clémence as "Mlle C. Bleuse", and that year's Annuaire du Commerce Didot-Bottin listed "Bleuse (C.), préparations microscopiques" at 29 Rue Lacépède.
At a point between then and 1932, she married André Bayard. The 1932 Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France listed her as "Bayard-Bleuse (Mme)". The couple had moved a short distance, to 32 Rue Lacépède. Clémence's advertisements from that year onward referred to her as "Mme Bayard-Bleuse". Presumably, she used that name on slides and insect collections, although I am not aware of any such items.
The 1935 issue of Almanach du Commerce de Paris des Départements de l'Empire Français, et des Principales Villes du Monde listed Bayard-Bleuse as offering "Préparations Microscopiques, gros, demi-gros" ("microscopical preparations, large and semi-large"). That may refer to thet standard 1x3 inch and smaller "continental" microscope slides.
The February 12, 1936 issue of Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France announced the death of "Mme André Bayard, préparateur micrographe, Membre de notre Société depuis 1922".
André soon moved to 3 Square Albin. For at least a while, he sold microscope slides from that address, describing himself as "préparateur" He died in 1967.
Figure 2.
1914 advertisement for sale of Bleuse’s insect and microscopical preparations, from "Echange Revue Linnéenne". It reads, "Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or write. Preparation of all kinds of insects - Careful display of Lepidoptera - Caterpillar blowing - Collection maintenance. Prices and conditions available upon request".
Figure 3.
1915 advertisement , from "Miscellanea Entomologica".
Figure 4.
1924 advertisement, from "Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France".
Figure 5.
Segment of a 1932 advertisement, from "Bulletin de Société Francaise de Microscopie".
Figure 6.
Segment of a 1936 advertisement by André Bayard, from "Bulletin de Société Francaise de Microscopie".
Resources
Almanach du Commerce de Paris des Départements de l'Empire Français, et des Principales Villes du Monde (1935) "Bayard-Bleuse, préparateur, Préparations Microscopiques, gros, demi-gros, Rue Lacépède. 32", page 3806
Annuaire du Commerce Didot-Bottin (1930) page 1254
Bayard, André (1944) Observations sur l'accouplement de Dryas paphia (L.), Bulletin Société Entomologique de France, Vol. 49, pages 92-94
Bracegirdle, Brian (1998) Microscopical Mounts and Mounters, Quekett Microscopical Club, London, pages 13, 118 and plate 7, slide B
Bridges, Charles A. (1993) Bayard, André, Bibliography (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera), University of Illinois Press, Champaign-Urbana, page I-20
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France (1912) "Admissions - M. André Bayard, villa Aubert, Saint-Mandé (Seine). Entomologie générale, princ. Coléoptères carnivores", page 346
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France (1916) Advertisements inside the front cover, all year long
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France (1922) Admission of Mlle. C. Bleuse to membership
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France (1924) Advertisements from Mlle. C. Bleuse
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France (1926) Advertisement from Mlle. C. Bleuse
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France (1927) List of members: 1922, Bleuse (Mlle C), Q A., 29, rue Lacépède, Paris, 5e. Entomologie générale, Micrographie
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France (1929) Record of voting members, Vol. 34, page 162
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France (1930) Record of voting members, Vol. 35, page 101
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France (1932) List of members
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France (1934) List of members
Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France (1936) Necrologie, February 12 issue
Bulletin de Société Francaise de Microscopie (1932) Advertisements from Mme. Bayard-Bleuse
Bulletin de Société Francaise de Microscopie (1936) Advertisements from André Bayard
Bulletin de la Société les Naturalistes Parisiens (1911) Bleuse (Mlle. Clémence), Préparateur d'Entomologie, 29, rue Lacépède (Paris, 5e)
Echange Revue Linnéenne (1914) Advertisements from Mlle. C. Bleuse, multiple issues
Miscellanea Entomologica (1915) Advertisements from Mlle. C. Bleuse, multiple issues
Le Cerf, Ferdinand (1925) Encyclopédie Entomologique, page 73