Germaine de Stael
Germaine de Stael was the daughter of the Swiss banker Jacques Necker who had played a major role in finance before the French Revolution. She was a writer who was politically very active, hosting a celebrated salon with the most influential people of the time. Germaine had a particularly tumultuous love life including a crush on Napoleon in the early stages of his power. She imagined she could be an advisor to Napoleon, in the same way Madame de Pompadour had been to Louis XV. Unfortunately for Germaine, Napoleon couldn’t stand her. She was far too outspoken and masculine for him and he found her messy love life and political views unacceptable. Juliette Recamier was more Napoleon’s style. Shortly before he became Emperor, Napoleon banished Germaine. She was not to come within 160 kilometers of Paris. She spent some time in Germany before settling in to the Chateau of Coppet, an estate near Lake Geneva her father had bought before the French Revolution. During her exile, Germaine’s influential friends, particularly those opposed to Napoleon, were part of the group she entertained at Coppet. Juliette Recamier stayed loyal to Germaine and was a regular visitor. She had her own bedroom set up at Coppet. One of Germaine’s guests at Coppet was Auguste a young Prussian Prince who had been captured by Napoleon and brought to France. A peace treaty the following year allowed him to return to Berlin. En route Prince Auguste stopped for a few days at Coppet. There he met Juliette and fell in love. He extended his stay to almost three months before having to return home. Before his departure Auguste and Juliette became engaged. Juliette wrote to Jacques Recamier asking him to agree to the annulment of their marriage. When Juliette returned to Paris, the reality of moving to a foreign country came into play. In Berlin she would not be surrounded by her family and friends and didn’t speak the language and so on. The following year Juliette broke off the engagement. They continued to write each other letters but Juliette did not see Auguste until seven years later when he entered Paris with the Prussian army after the defeat of Napoleon. Although Auguste had moved on with his life, Napoleon later observed in his memoirs that Auguste’s feelings for Juliette had not altered. Germaine’s political activities made her vulnerable and when she wrote a book promoting the unification of Germany, Napoleon was angrier than ever. She was confined to Coppet and spied upon. The following year she was 45 when she started an affair with John Rocca, a handsome 22 year old man from a local noble family. He had been severely injured while fighting with Napoleon’s army and was awarded the Legion of Honour. Germaine fell pregnant almost immediately and secretly gave birth to their son.* The following month Germaine escaped from Coppet with Rocca and two of her children. They travelled to England via Russia and Sweden, the only possible route with Napoleon controlling most of Europe at that stage. Germaine continued to cultivate friendships with all the influential people of the time. In England she met Louis XVI’s brother (who would become the next King of France when Napoleon was exiled). Lord Byron, who was a frequent visitor to Coppet, described her as Europe’s greatest living writer. After Napoleon’s abdication Germaine returned to Paris, shortly after the arrival of the new King Louis XVIII. She became a close friend of the Duke of Wellington. When news reached her of Napoleon’s return to France, Germaine left Paris and returned to Coppet where she concentrated on organising a suitable marriage for her daughter. After her daughter’s wedding in Italy the following year, she returned for one last time to Coppet where she secretly married John Rocca before returning to Paris. Germaine had a stroke in Paris the following year and died a few months later. Juliette was devastated at the loss of her friend of almost twenty years. At Juliette’s suggestion, Prince Auguste of Prussia ordered a portrait of Germaine depicting her as “Corinne”, a character from one of her novels who was based on Germaine herself. THE PORTRAIT EXCHANGE By the time Gérard’s portrait of Germaine was delivered Juliette was living in the Abbaye-aux-Bois in Paris where it occupied pride of place in her salon. To thank Prince Auguste, Juliette sent him the portrait Gérard had painted of her in 1801 when she was 23. He had already been given a miniature of the portrait when the engagement had been called off. In turn he had a local artist paint his portrait in front of hers in his private rooms. Auguste also commissioned a painting of Juliette in her salon at the Abbaye-aux-Bois with the painting of Germaine. The Dejuinne painting shows Juliette in the same pose, 26 years later. At the age of 49 Juliette has chosen not to be painted with bare feet. It is reminiscent of Juliette’s portrait by Jacques-Louis David painted when she was 23. The David portrait, which was never finished, was bought by the French government when the artist died. It was displayed in the Louvre—where it can still be seen—almost 200 years later. The original piece of furniture, which came to be named after her, is displayed at a former residence of the man who was the love of Juliette’s life and the only one to succeed where all others had failed—the celebrated writer Chateaubriand.
Juliette Recamier
THREE OF THE MOST FAMOUS PEOPLE OF THE PERIOD – THE SOCIALITE, HER BEST FRIEND AND HER LOVER Universally regarded as the most beautiful woman of her time, the young Juliette Recamier is an outstanding example of truth being stranger than fiction. Married off at 15 during the French Revolution to the 42 year old banker Jacques Recamier, she remained the sole occupant of her bed for most of her life. Recamier had been Juliette’s mother’s lover, arguably also Juliette’s father (which probably explains why he never slept with her). They lived in a strange menage à quatre with Juliette’s mother, legal father and his lifelong (male) companion. Recamier was a well known womaniser and Juliette (who was still a virgin until she was in her forties and finally succumbed to Chateaubriand) had all of the most famous men of Europe falling at her feet. When Juliette was 20, Recamier purchased a grand new home in Paris. It had been built by Jacques Necker, former finance minister to Louis XVI. Necker’s daughter, the famous intellectual and author Germaine de Stael, handled the sale. Juliette and Germaine became close friends. Juliette was a fan of the classical style and a family friend, Louis-Martin Berthault, redecorated the mansion in the new “Etruscan” style. It was the beginning of a stellar career for Berthault*. The neoclassical style became the new fashion and soon flourished under the Empire. The who’s who of Paris and visiting VIPs were eager to receive invitations to Juliette’s magnificent residence. Her parties were famous with dinners being served at 2 am. Balls and concerts were regular events. Juliette’s bedroom and boudoir were a “must see” for guests, many of whom copied the style. The bronze trimmed mahogany bed Berthault designed for Juliette set a trend. It became the talk of Paris and the swan emblem first used here became very popular. The walls were covered with mauve silk. The bed was placed on a dais, with two steps up, reminiscent of an altar. It was placed parallel to the wall and reflected in the mirror. The bed curtains were white muslin embroidered in gold. There were two bedside tables on the first raised level (one contained a potty.) The original bed and tables are now on display at the Louvre. * Berthault became the architect for Josephine at Malmaison shortly after Napoleon became Emperor. He continued to work for Josephine after the divorce when she ordered a new bed. The style was a repeat of Juliette’s bed Berthault had designed more than 12 years earlier. Josephine’s bed resembled a throne. Juliette’s swans were repeated but enlarged (Josephine’s emblem was the swan). Juliette’s bedroom furniture was also copied by Queen Louise of Prussia for her palace in Berlin. Juliette was arguably the most sought after woman in Paris. Her friend Germaine de Stael said her beauty was unequalled in the whole of Europe. Among the many admirers was Lucien Bonaparte, who shortly after meeting Juliette, was involved in the coup d’état which brought his brother Napoleon to power. Under the new regime Jacques Recamier was named a regent of the newly established Banque de France. Napoleon met up with Juliette at a party hosted by Lucien to celebrate their sister Caroline’s upcoming marriage to Murat (yet another of Juliette’s admirers). Juliette side-stepped Napoleon’s subtle attempts to attract her attention. Juliette’s newly decorated mansion became inspirational in the new “Empire style” which was beginning to develop. Six months after he became Emperor, Napoleon had his Chief of Police approach Juliette to offer her a post in the Imperial court. She rejected each of four requests, including one directly involving Napoleon’s sister Caroline. It was thought that Napoleon was considering replacing his wife Josephine with the younger, more beautiful Juliette (Napoleon was 36, Josephine was 42, Juliette was 27). This rejection caused a major change in her life. Juliette’s husband’s financial situation became precarious and their mansion had to be sold. Napoleon had already exiled Germaine de Stael from Paris . Juliette’s ongoing friendship with her was a major factor in Napoleon’s decision to exile her as well. Shortly before her 30th birthday, Juliette went to stay for several months with Germaine at her Chateau of Coppet just over the border in Switzerland. Aged 40 Juliette met up again with the writer Chateaubriand at a dinner at Germaine de Stael’s Paris residence. After they attended Germaine’s funeral a few weeks later, Juliette devoted the rest of her life to him. She talked Mathieu de Montmorency, one of her many lifelong admirers, into buying Chateaubriand’s country residence at Vallée aux Loups when he was forced to sell it. Juliette had an apartment there. Juliette’s bedroom can still be seen as well as the original “recamier” – the chaise longue which was named after her and featured in the famous David portrait. It appears Juliette agonised for quite some time about becoming a lover of Chateaubriand. His frequent love affairs were standard, but for Juliette, a virgin in her forties, it was a totally different matter. It appears they discreetly met at Versailles when Chateaubriand was on his way back from a trip to Normandy. Discretion was equally important to Chateaubriand because his mistress at that time was a very demanding woman and likely to cause scenes. Soon after, Jacques Recamier’s final bankruptcy changed the living arrangements and Juliette moved to Abbaye aux Bois, where she received a daily visit from Chateaubriand at 3 pm. Her other admirers were very resentful of this time when they were not permitted to interrupt them for the regular hourly visit. Chateaubriand was not capable of remaining faithful, even to Juliette. His political career had him based outside France for various periods. When he travelled to London to act as the French Ambassador (where he served the first “Chateaubriand” dishes to impressed guests), Juliette met him at a house in Chantilly. “Don’t forget Chantilly” became a regular phrase. However, shortly after returning
Pauline’s Bed
Shortly before her marriage to the Italian Prince Camillo Borghese Pauline Bonaparte bought the Paris residence of the Dukes of Charost. She decorated each room in a different colour. Pauline added two wings overlooking the garden. One contained 175 paintings from her husband’s art collection and the other was a dining room which could be converted to a ball room. The glass ceilings were draped with fine fabric to allow the light to penetrate. Pauline owned the residence for 11 years. When Napoleon was forced to abdicate and exiled to Elba, Pauline headed there to be with him. She sold her Paris residence to the Duke of Wellington who was acting on behalf of the British government. The residence sold for 800,000 francs which included 300,000 francs for the furniture. It was the first permanent residence purchased for a British Ambassador. Wellington occupied the house until Napoleon returned to Paris. When Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo, the British returned. It is still the residence of the British Ambassador to France. Pauline’s original bed has been moved from the first floor to the ground floor. The English King Edward VII slept in it twice on visits to Paris as did the Queen Mother in 1956 and 1982.
Napoleon’s Family
Napoleon, originally known as Napoleone, was the second eldest of Carlo and Letizia Buonaparte’s eight surviving children. All the children were born in Corsica and. like Napoleon used the Italian surname of his father whose family descended from Tuscan nobility. (The name did not officially change to the French “Bonaparte” until 1796 when Napoleon married Josephine.) Carlo died of cancer at the age of 38, three months after the birth of his youngest son. Napoleon was 15 and attending the École Militaire in Paris at the time. Letizia, known as “Madame Mère” outlived Napoleon, dying in Rome at the age of 85. Eight of their twelve children survived to adulthood. Napoleon’s Brother and Sisters Joseph Napoleon made Joseph King of Naples and then King of Spain. During the Revolution Joseph had married Julie Clary, daughter of a wealthy merchant from Marseille. Napoleon had become engaged to her sister Désirée. He had broken off the engagement to marry Josephine. Napoleon Napoleon was born the year after Joseph. Napoleon was 5 years old when his next surviving brother was born. In the meantime his mother had given birth too three children who were either stillborn or died shortly after birth. Lucien Lucien was politically active before Napoleon and played an important part in initially bringing Napoleon to power. However Napoleon did not approve of Lucien’s wife. Lucien refused to give her up. He moved to Rome and then England. During the Hundred Days he returned to France where Napoleon finally made him a Prince. Elisa During Napoleon’s initial campaign in Italy, Elisa married a nobleman from Corsica. At that stage Napoleon was just a general, so his initial reticence about her choice was based on her husband’s doubtful reputation as an army captain. As Emperor Napoleon made Elisa the Princess of Piombino and Lucca in Italy. Four years later she also became the Grand Duchess of Tuscany. Louis Louis married Josephine’s daughter Hortense. Napoleon made Louis King of Holland for a period of four years. When he died in 1846, his only surviving son was in prison for his political activity. Louis had no idea he would became President of France two years later and then Emperor Napoleon III in 1852. Pauline Pauline was Napoleon’s favourite sister. She married one of his Generals who died of yellow fever five years later. Within less than a year she remarried. Her new husband was an Italian Prince—Camillo Borghese, making her a Princess. The following year Napoleon made her a Princess of the Empire as well. Caroline Caroline married Joachim Murat, one of Napoleon’s generals. Napoleon made them King and Queen of Naples after he moved his eldest brother Joseph from Naples to Spain. During Napoleon’s exile on Elba, Murat initially formed an alliance with the Austrians to keep the throne. He rallied again to Napoleon during the Hundred Days which resulted in his execution. Caroline then called herself the “Countess of Lipona” (anagram of Napoli). Jerome At 19 Jerome had run off to America where he married the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Napoleon did not approve and annulled the marriage. Jerome then married a German Princess and Napoleon made him King of Westphalia—a combined region in Germany. Jerome later became a prominent figure in the government of his nephew Napoleon III.
Joseph Bonaparte
Napoleon made Joseph King of Naples and then King of Spain. During the Revolution Joseph had married Julie Clary, daughter of a wealthy merchant from Marseille. Napoleon had become engaged to her sister Désirée. He had broken off the engagement to marry Josephine.