moss > Les Visiteurs d’ Été: Marie-Louise, Imératrice des Francais

GIFTED 2008

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Detail:

Les Visiteurs d’ Été:
Marie-Louise, Imératrice des Francais

designer:
François Nicolas Delaistre

design year:
1813

manufacturer:
Manufacture National de Sèvres, France

materials:
biscuit porcelain

notes:
After the failure of Napoléon’s first marriage to the Empress Joséphine (Marie-Rose-Josephine Tascher de la Pragerie), Napoleon turned his eyes to the Archduchess Marie-Louise (Maria Luisa Leopoldine Franziska Theresia Josepha Lucia), daughter of his old enemy, Emperor Francis I of Austria. He sent an emissary to the Austrian embassy to demand Marie-Louise’s hand in marriage, and he asked for a contract to be signed without consultation of the Austrian court. Austria was forced to accept the proposition. Marie-Louise, only nineteen years old, was terrified. France had not been kind to her great-aunt Marie Antoinette, Napoléon was far older than she, and he was an enemy of Austria. Nevertheless she bowed to the will of her father, and marrying, she became Empress of the French on March 11th, 1810.

This bust was commissioned in biscuit porcelain in 1959 by Maxime Sciolette, Brazilian Minister (and Napoleonic collector) who owned the original work in terra-cotta, now in the Musée Napoléon Ier in Fontainebleau.

dimensions:
height: 14 ¼”

price upon request