DIDRON, ADOLPHE-NAPOLÉON. – Art historian, b. at Hautvillers (Marne) on 13 March 1806, d. in Paris on 13 November 1867. He completed his early studies at the seminaries of Meaux and Reims. In 1826 he went to Paris, where he studied law.
He subsequently devoted himself to artistic studies, particularly to medieval art and Christian iconography. In 1835 he was elected secretary of the Commission for Historical Monuments established by Guizot. In 1838 he gave a course in Christian iconography at the Royal Library. In 1844 he founded the Annales archéologiques, which he directed until his death. He published various works on art, including: Histoire de Dieu, iconographie des personnes divines (Paris 1844); Manuel d'iconographie chrétienne grecque et latine (there 1845); Manuel des oeuvres de bronze et d'orfeverie du moyen-âge (there 1859).