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 to France to take up his new position as Minister of Foreign Affairs he was already having a fling with one of the famous seductresses of famous men when the 55 year old Chateaubriand became besotted with a ravishing 27 year old blonde.
Typically, Juliette did not make a fuss. She decided to head to Italy where she caught up with a wide group of friends including Napoleon’s relatives who were then living in exile there. She remained in Italy even after Chateaubriand lost his position and expected her to come back to Paris. Finally, she returned when she received news the larger apartment at the Abbey was finally vacant and she could set up her residence there.
Two days after arriving back in Paris after an absence of 19 months, she sent a note to Chateaubriand. That afternoon he arrived at his usual time and they took up as if nothing had happened—apart from the fact there was no longer a question of them being lovers. His subsequent liaisons were more discreet.
Juliette’s enlarged salon in the new apartment was an important stage for Chateaubriand, especially as she welcomed the Who’s Who of society.
More than 25 years later, Mme de Chateaubriand died.
Juliette was a widow but there was no point in marrying at that stage. Chateaubriand died at the age of 79 with Juliette at his side. She died of cholera less than a year later.
Juliette’s adopted daughter had the artist Achille Deveria come to do a portrait of her shortly after her death. The intention was to give a limited number of copies as a souvenir to her close friends. In publishing Juliette’s correspondence later Amelie confirms it is an exact likeness (“Scrupleuse exactitude”), that Juliette had never known old age apart from the fact her hair went white during the trip in Rome in 1844.
She had never done anything to combat the effects of aging. She concealed her white hair under bonnets etc. The lithograph is in the Carnavalet collection.
She was 71.
