Re: Hiatus

I am really sorry that I haven't made many posts lately. I am going to have a break for about a month and I hope to write many pieces after that!

An Artistic Princess

Charlotte and Zenaide

While we were in Rome last year we went to see the Charlotte Bonaparte exhibition. This included impressive sketches and paintings by the princess, beautiful eighteenth century objects, and paintings by famous artists. This was very enjoyable, except that the receptionist didn't like Australians! (My English husband got much better treatment!)

The artistic princess was the daughter of Napoleon 1's older brother, Joseph, and his wife, Julie Clary. Born in France in 1802, young Charlotte grew up there. She remained mostly in Mortefontaine and Paris even while her father was the king of Naples and the king of Spain.

Charlotte soon showed a talent for art. She loved to spend her time painting and sketching. The princess was lucky enough to receive lessons from the famous artist, Jean

-Louis David, in Belgium.

After he was exiled, Joseph bought properties in America. He owned a house in Philadelphia and a large estate in New Jersey. He filled this with art and sculpture. Large landscaped gardens added beauty and serenity. The princess spent three years in America with her father. Here she painted portraits of society people and New Jersey landscapes. Some of these were exhibited at the Academy for Fine Arts in Philadelphia.

Charlotte was petite and attractive with fine dark eyes and hair. Many suitors called but her father was determined to marry her to a relative. She married her cousin, Napoleon-Louis, in 1826. The couple returned to Europe and lived in Rome. Here Charlotte studied engraving and lithography with Louis Leopold Robert.

Napoleon-Louis died during the struggle for unification of Italy. After this the princess lived with her mother in Florence. She became pregnant at 36, perhaps to a Polish count. The princess died tragically from complications of childbirth.

Princess Mathilde's Tudor Rose Brooch

One of Princess Mathilde's most beautiful pieces of jewellery was the tudor rose brooch. This large, glimmering brooch, created by the famous Parisian jeweler, Theodore Foster, in 1855, was in the shape of an open rose with two rose buds and eleven leaves. It had thousands of Brazilian green rose-cut diamonds mounted in silver-topped gold.

The gorgeous brooch was sold in 1904 after the Princess's death. Janesich, the Art Deco jeweler, acquired it. It was eventually sold by Cartier to Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt, a society queen of New York. It came into the hands of the jeweler, Fred Leighton.

Model, Chandra North, looked extremely glamorous when she wore the lovely brooch as a hair ornament to an event in 1998. The brooch was sold by Christie's in 2004 for $701,900. You can see a picture of the brooch here: Tudor Rose Brooch

New Post Soon

I now know what 'overland flooding' means! Luckily, only my entrance, garage and lift were affected. I've also been lucky enough to have a short holiday!

I hope to write a new post soon!

Anna Pavlova and the Kaiser

Anna Pavlova was very frightened. Her lipstick had left a red mark on the Kaiserin's pristine white glove! She saw the upset look on the Empress's face. The great Russian ballerina apologised profusely. Luckily the Kaiser told her that it didn't matter.

It was May, 1914. The ethereal ballerina had just danced in a command performance for the Kaiser's grandson's christening. The Kaiser was very impressed.

During their conversation afterwards Pavlova told him that she kept in condition by exercising every day as she had been trained. The Kaiser agreed that 'that was the only way to succeed.'

He was also very pleased when she told him that she disliked the tango, a dance that was becoming more popular. The Kaiser also hated this 'immoral' dance.

Pavlova was happy after the performance. The Kaiser had allayed her concerns about the glove, perhaps partly because he liked his conversation with her. If she had marked the Tsarina's glove, she thought that there may have been serious consequences!

No Sign of Engaged Couple at Royal Christmas

Kate has chosen to spend her last Christmas with her family and Prince William also decided not to spend Christmas with his grandparents so that Kate wouldn't face pressure to go: Royal Christmas.

I hope to write a new post soon. Merry Christmas,everyone!

The Empress's Escape

Empress Eugenie heard loud insults from the mob nearby. Too terrified to look out of the window, she wondered what to do. If she didn't escape she could be murdered like poor Marie-Antoinette! She knew that The Third Republic had already been declared.

Luckily, she still had friends amongst the Guards who helped her sneak out of the Palace in disguise and catch a cab to her dear friend, Dr.Evan's house. The American had been her dentist and friend for many years. She knew that he'd help her.She was desperate with little money left.

The Empress had to wait for Evans for two hours. Her impatience and anxiety almost drove her mad but she didn't know what else to do. Luckily they escaped without too much trouble. When they were stopped the Empress, dressed in black, pretended to be a lady on her way to the insane asylum who didn't want to go! After a long and tiring journey they reached Deauville. From here they hoped to flee to England.

Evans asked Sir John Burgoyne to take them across the Channel in his yacht. At first he refused, but his horrified wife insisted that he try to rescue the Empress. It was a rough voyage. The night was very dark, and the wind tore at the small boat. Everyone was seasick, except the deck-hands. Sir John thought that they were all going to die but eventually the night calmed down and they reached Ryde. Now the Empress could see the Prince Imperial who was at Hastings.