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The last anointed King of France enters Paris after his coronation. Via Vive la Reine.
During his triumphal entry, the King touched many hearts when he rode out of the procession and over to a window of the Tuileries, where two small, blond figures were jumping up and down, calling, “Bon-Papa! Bon-Papa!” Charles X, already famous for his hospitality, began to hold glittering receptions at the Tuileries, replete with pastries and ices and he melted many hearts with the gentle tones of his “Bon soir.” Thérèse, the tall, cool Dauphine at his side, in jeweled coronet and a cloud of white plumes, either offended by her frigid manner, or elicited tears by those who saw in her person the chaste austerity of Saint Radegonde and other holy Frankish queens of old. ~from Madame Royale by Elena Maria Vidal
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5 comments:
Those are the columns on either side of Avenue du Trone in that painting, I think, on the Right Bank near what is now Place de la Nation.
Thank you, Stephanie, that is very helpful!!
You're welcome--before the Revolution, Place de la Nation was called Place du Trone. During the Revolution it was renamed Place du Trone Renverse (turned upside down)--and of course was the guillotine's location at the end of the Terror. I presume the restored monarchy restored the original name!
What always surprised me about Charles X as well as Louis XVIII was their attitudes toward the decor and furnishings left by Napoleon in the Royal Palaces of France. Why did they not seek out and buy back the treasures of their late brother which graced Versailles. The masterpieces by Riesener and the other artisans of the court of Louis XVI produced splendid furniture and porcelain. Instead, they kept the overblown and pretentious works by Desmalter for Napoleon. When you think of the heartache and grief Bonaparte caused the Royal Family of France I would think EVERYTHING made for Napoleon should either be sold or committed to the bonfire.
One would think but my guess is that they were trying to save time and money by making do with the furniture left behind by the Bonapartes. I do know that MTC tried to find what had become of her own pianoforte.
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