Holy Guacamole: 

Napoleon and Josephine’s Engagement Ring Sells for $949,000

Moss green silk taffetas pelisse with sky blue silk lining and Point de Bruxelles lace collar, French or English, ca. 1811. Pumpkin-colored cashmere shawl.

Napoleon and the Empire of Fashion

I felt like I was living in the movie A Night at the Museum on Sunday. Accompanied by the mistress of the shop and our lovely journey woman, the two summer interns (c’est moi and one other) journeyed to Washington DC to study extant items. The best thing about having me at an Art Gallery is that you don’t need to bother with a tour guide. Just give me a clipboard and call me Julie the Cruise Director!

This photo was quickly taken as we ran to the Castle to make sure we made it in before closing. We didn’t but it didn’t matter since had permission to be in after closing time. As my father would say: pics or it didn’t happen. 

At the American Art Museum I’m afraid that my original major might have shown through just a teensy tiny bit. There may or may not have been a moment when I had a conversation with the bust of Tennyson. I’m sure everyone slinks into a room and says “Well fancy seeing you here Mr. Tennyson?”  That’s completely normal for me :D

At the The National Museum of Women in the Arts we were able to catch The Royalists to Romantics exhibition (which if you are in the area GO SEE IT) where I was able to get my symbolism nerd on. It has to be said that Napoleon was one handsome bloke. As I stood in front of his painting I gave an impromptu lecture on the symbolism of Bees in the portraits of Napoleon and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Seriously this man was the master of expressing power through subtle and not-so-subtle use of symbolism.

On the topic of the NMWA, I might have gone a little teary eyed when I stood in front of Lavinia Fontana, Portrait of a Young Woman from 1580. I had so many conversations about the zibellino (flea fur) during my internship with the Tudor Tailor and it was so lovely to see one in real life.

Unfortunately I can’t talk about most of the highlights of that night but I can say that I’ve never toured an art gallery as fast as I did at the National Gallery in DC. We had the five minute tour since we had a timeline to keep (which didn’t matter since we were in the museum well after it had closed anyway). While everyone else was on a pursuit of English Art I had no problems running after the French art. It’s not everyday you get to see The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuilerie (cue more bee symbolism). I’m not picky when it comes to Art. French or English, throw it at me.

Finally, I can cross “stay in a museum well after it’s been closed examining extant garments” off my bucket list.

NAPOLEONIC PRISONER OF WAR BONE AUTOMATON, early 19th century, modelled as four ladies wearing bonnets and coiffes at various pursuits and two young children “”dancing”“, 4 3/4”” high, base 1 1/2”” x 3 1/4”“”

(Source: )

Dress worn to the wedding of Napoleon Bonaparte and Marie-Louise, 1810

I’m not sure where this one belongs, I found the photo on a forum talking about the divorce. Beautiful gown! 

Uniform of General of Division worn by Napoleon at the Battle of Marengo, 1800

Gold embroidered oak leaves - lapels of one of Napoleon’s uniforms

This LOCK of HAIR of NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE was presented to me by Miss Balcomb who herself cut it from the head of the Emperor by his permission. [There follows a signature:] H Wright.  Purser of the Hon EIC’s Ship Winchilsea.

“The first emblematic image of the Napoleonic myth, this painting exalts the virtues of the military leader, as embodied by the young General Bonaparte at the head of the Armée d’Italie. In reality, Arcole bridge was not crossed. But that is not important. Here the artist glorifies the episode and makes it part of the legend. Drive, courage, overpowering will pour out of this edgy yet passionate picture. Gros had in fact been present at the Battle of Arcole, and thanks to the intervention of Josephine, he managed to get Bonaparte in Milan to sit for him several times. What Gros highlights is the image of Bonaparte as the providential saviour, the conquering hero who leads his troops, sabre in hand, seizing victory through his bravery alone.”

The justaucorps from Napoleon’s First Consul uniform. This can be seen in many contemporary paintings of the “Corsican upstart”.