Dear Shaded Viewers,
On the occasion of the bicentenary of the Emperor’s death, Josephine Napoleon, a (extra)ordinary story looks back on the highlights of their life together,
of which the founder of the House was a privileged witness.
The historic Chaumet mansion is celebrating the first anniversary of its restoration, bringing together more than 150 pieces of jewellery, paintings, objets d’art, letters or graphic arts documents, some of which are very rarely revealed to the public. In addition to pieces from the House’s historical collection, loans from prestigious private collections – such as the Inalienable Collection of the Royal House of Denmark, the NBC Bruno Ledoux Collection and the Françoise Deville Collection – as well as from cultural institutions such as the Napoleon Foundation, the Louvre Museum, the Château de Fontainebleau, the National Museum of the Châteaux of Malmaison and Bois-Préau, the Masséna Museum in Nice, the Carnavalet Museum and the Dosne-Thiers Foundation are on display.
Joséphine Napoléon, an (extra)ordinary story tells of the universal passion of this mythical couple, under the supervision of Pierre Branda, historian specialising in the Consulate and the First Empire, director of the heritage department of the Napoleon Foundation and author of the reference book Joséphine. The Swan Paradox.
Each salon tells the story of one of the highlights of their love, while evoking the history of the House. In the Salon Chopin, listed as a Historic Monument, the meeting and the beginnings of this romance are evoked, then the visitor relives the coronation, the moment when the imperial couple is at its firmament.
The exhibition also reveals Josephine’s personality and tastes, before tackling the couple’s ceremonial life and the dynastic issues that led to their separation. The visit culminates in a highlight highlighting the eternal dimension of this mythical love story, which remains alive and inspires, in particular, the creations of the House of Chaumet.
Later,
Diane
