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Lot Essay
This chandelier can possibly be identified as one described in contemporary documents as à 12 lumieres, les branches ornées de feuilles d’ornement doré d’or moulu, guirlandes de crystal de Bohême, trois pieds de haut, 22 de large. The chandelier was acquired by Napoleon’s young wife, Josephine, while he was still general in charge of the French army in Italy. She placed it in her newly-acquired house in the rue de Chantereine in Paris with another nine-branch example, which is now in the château de Malmaison. As the Bonapartes moved to grander quarters, the house was sold in 1806 to the general Lefèvres-Desnouettes and most of the furniture was sent to either Rambouillet or the Tuileries.
One of the most iconic women of French history, Empress Josephine (1763-1814) was born Marie-Josèphe-Rose Tascher de la Pagerie, called Josephine, into an aristocratic family in Les Trois-Îlets, Martinique, where her father owned a sugarcane plantation. After traveling to France, she married the Vicomte Alexandre de Beauharnais in 1779. The couple had two children, Eugène and Hortense. During the Revolution both Josephine and her husband, by now separated, were imprisoned. The Vicomte de Beauharnais was guillotined on 23 July 1794, but Josephine, now a penniless widow, was released. Her fortunes improved dramatically when, in 1796, she married the young hero of the Italian Campaign, General Napoleon Bonaparte. She purchased the Château de Malmaison in 1799, the year Napoleon became First Consul, and it was here that she was able to indulge her lavish tastes, employing young artists to decorate the interiors in the most modern fashions. She also redesigned the gardens and built up an impressive art collection. After Napoleon declared himself Emperor in May 1804, Josephine became Empress, and she was anointed by Pope Pius VII and crowned by Napoleon himself on 2 December 1804, a ceremony that was depicted by David in his celebrated canvas Le couronnement de l'Empereur et de l'Impératrice le 2 décembre 1804. In 1805 Josephine added Queen of Italy to her other titles and her portrait was painted by the leading artists of the time, including Baron Gros, Gérard, Prud'hon and Isabey. Josephine's marriage to Napoleon remained childless and in 1809 the couple were divorced, thereby allowing Napoleon to marry Marie-Louise of Austria. Josephine, however, was permitted to retain her titles of Queen and Empress, although she was expected to keep a lower profile than before. She travelled extensively through Switzerland, Savoy and Italy but spent most of her time in her beloved Malmaison, where she died in 1814 at the age of fifty.
One of the most iconic women of French history, Empress Josephine (1763-1814) was born Marie-Josèphe-Rose Tascher de la Pagerie, called Josephine, into an aristocratic family in Les Trois-Îlets, Martinique, where her father owned a sugarcane plantation. After traveling to France, she married the Vicomte Alexandre de Beauharnais in 1779. The couple had two children, Eugène and Hortense. During the Revolution both Josephine and her husband, by now separated, were imprisoned. The Vicomte de Beauharnais was guillotined on 23 July 1794, but Josephine, now a penniless widow, was released. Her fortunes improved dramatically when, in 1796, she married the young hero of the Italian Campaign, General Napoleon Bonaparte. She purchased the Château de Malmaison in 1799, the year Napoleon became First Consul, and it was here that she was able to indulge her lavish tastes, employing young artists to decorate the interiors in the most modern fashions. She also redesigned the gardens and built up an impressive art collection. After Napoleon declared himself Emperor in May 1804, Josephine became Empress, and she was anointed by Pope Pius VII and crowned by Napoleon himself on 2 December 1804, a ceremony that was depicted by David in his celebrated canvas Le couronnement de l'Empereur et de l'Impératrice le 2 décembre 1804. In 1805 Josephine added Queen of Italy to her other titles and her portrait was painted by the leading artists of the time, including Baron Gros, Gérard, Prud'hon and Isabey. Josephine's marriage to Napoleon remained childless and in 1809 the couple were divorced, thereby allowing Napoleon to marry Marie-Louise of Austria. Josephine, however, was permitted to retain her titles of Queen and Empress, although she was expected to keep a lower profile than before. She travelled extensively through Switzerland, Savoy and Italy but spent most of her time in her beloved Malmaison, where she died in 1814 at the age of fifty.