Fontainebleau gets an Isabey drawing

22/2/24 - Acquisition - Fontainebleau, Musée Napoléon Ier - It is both a very fine drawing and a formidable historical document, as well as a watercolour famous among lovers of the decorative arts for its depiction of lost furnishings: the Bellifontaine teams certainly deserve all our praise for having finally succeeded in repatriating to French public collections this capital Isabey sheet, which was sold for $300,000 hammer [1]. Entitled "A Scholar Collects" (see article), this sale betrayed the refined taste of its owner, whose name was no secret: it was the great art historian Joseph Baillio, who had himself often published the drawing (ill. 1) by Jean-Baptiste Isabey.

1. Jean-Baptiste Isabey (1767-1855)
Napoléon Presenting the Newborn King of Rome to the Empress Marie-Louise in her Room at the Tuileries Palace on 20th March 1811, 1811
Watercolour over graphite lines - 24.5 x 28 cm
Fontainebleau, Musée Napoléon Ier
Photo: Sotheby’s

See the image in its page

We can only be delighted to see a French museum taking part in such a major American auction, so rare is this kind of event, but it is true that this work could only irresistibly appeal to the Musée Napoléon I at the Château de Fontainebleau, which did everything it could to secure its acquisition, mobilising the Fonds du Patrimoine of the Ministry of Culture as well as the public establishment’s own appropriations. It also benefited from the support of various patrons who were undoubtedly impressed by this key scene in the imperial epic. It was 20 March 1811, and the young Empress Marie-Louise had finally given birth to her long-awaited heir, who was immediately invested with the title of King of Rome! Dressed in the uniform of colonel of the foot grenadiers of the Guard, Napoleon placed the baby in his mother’s arms, lying in her parade bed, which had incidentally been designed for the one who had preceded her.

2. François Honoré Georges Jacob-Desmalter (1770-1841)