A young lady, called Pauline Bonaparte,
by Jean Baptiste Isabey, circa 1805.

Napoleon's beautiful, scandalous younger sister, Pauline Bonaparte (1780-1825) lead a life filled with romance and intrigue. Married by Napoleon to General Victor Emmanuel Leclerc at the age of seventeen, she was a wealthy widow five years later. Waiting less than a year, Pauline became a princess when she married Prince Camillo Borghese. Amassing an enormous fortune over the years, Pauline liquidated her holdings to join Napoleon in exile in Elba, using her funds to provide him a court. After Waterloo, Pauline moved to Rome, where she died at the Palazzo Borghese at the age of forty four.

Set in the original gold and blue enamel octagonal mount with chased gold spandrel.

2 3/8 inches (6 cm) high.

Jean Baptiste Isabey (1767-1855) was not only the most famous, but the most prodigious miniaturist in French history. In addition to miniatures, he worked in oils, on vellum, card and enamel. And, Isabey was a master politician, remaining a court favorite from Louis XVI, to Imperial Painter for Napoleon, with official positions at court throughout the reigns of Louis XVIII, Charles XX, Louis Philippe and Napoleon III, who gave him a pension. His studio produced most of the miniaturists for a generation to come. After about 1800, Isabey began using vellum and card, rather than ivory as a support for his miniatures. His works are in virtually every major museum and private collection, and the Louvre has an Isabey room.

printable page