Book Review: Marie Antoinette’s Confidante: The Rise and Fall of the Princesse de Lamballe by Geri Walton

The Princesse de Lamballe is one of the most well-known peripherial figures in the life of Marie Antoinette. A friend, a favorite and ultmiately, a tragic figure whose loyalty to the queen played both a symbolic and literal role in her untimely death. Although the princesse de Lamballe is frequently featured in modern fictional media about Marie Antoinette, she is rarely studied today as a figure in her own right.

Marie Antoinette's Confidante: The Rise and Fall of the Princesse de Lamballe by Geri Walton is the first English-language study focused on the titular princesse to be published in more than one-hundred years.

The life of the princesse de Lamballe was not as extensively recorded as that of more famed figures--therefore her story is often the story of Marie Antoinette, or the story of the court as a whole. Thankfully, Walton has teased out many smaller records of the princesse that help provide a fuller picture of her life, personality and the forces that shaped her ultimate fate.

These smaller records include mentions of the princesse in the letters of Marie Antoinette and secondhand accounts, such as a record of Madame Du Barry quipping that the princesse was "destitute of wit.' With oft-neglected figures such as the princesse de Lamballe, every small piece helps to create a fuller picture of the puzzle. The peripheral sources--tales of family matters, court intrigues, and the wider movement of the revolution--also help create a clearer picture of the princesse's life.

There are some moments in the book when the focus on secondary events does make the book feel more like a general 'life and times' rather than a biographical look at the princesse herself. This may feel slightly frustrating for some readers, particularly when it comes to information that they may have already absorbed from other sources, such as information about Marie Antoinette. 

Walton does her best to keep the material relevant to Lamballe as much as possible, tying the supplemental material into the princesse’s whereabouts, influences and experiences. But there are still some sections where I wished for the focus to narrow in on the titular subject.

Readers familiar with Marie Antoinette and the 18th century French court will find some overlap with this book and books about those topics, but when Walton's focus hones in on the princesse de Lamballe herself, there are many unique details to be found within these pages that were previously overlooked in English-language publications.

Overall, I would recommend Marie Antoinette’s Confidante: The Rise and Fall of the Princesse de Lamballe by Geri Walton to anyone looking for a modern, readable biography of the princesse de Lamballe.

[A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher] 

 

Inspired Tuesday: Marie Antoinette and princesse de Lamballe advertise for Petrole Hahn

Inspired Tuesday: a day to share anything and everything inspired by Marie Antoinette and her world.

Petrole Hahn is a French-based company that has been in operation for over 100 years. Their primary claim to fame is hair-based products, including shampoos, conditioners and other rinses. Like many businesses at the time, Petrole Hahn employed postcards and trading cards as part of their outreach advertisement campaign. These two cards depicting the princesse de Lamballe and Marie Antoinette were from a particular collectible set featuring notable French royals, aristocrats, and even revolutionaries.

 [source: my scan/collection]

 

 [source: my scan/collection]

A miniature of the princesse de Lamballe from the collection of Michèle Morgan

[credit: Shine a lot Auctions, via Invaluable]

 

A miniature portrait of the princesse de Lamballe, circa 1780, attributed to Ignace Jean Victor Campana (1744-1786). This beautiful miniature is from the personal collection of Michèle Morgan, who played Marie Antoinette in the 1956 film, Marie Antoinette: Reine de France.

Italian books from the library of the princesse de Lamballe

Coutau-Begarie is hosting a fantastic auction with several hundred French historical pieces this week; among the letters and relics are several books from the library of the princesse de Lamballe. The books being auctioned are primarily major works by Italian authors. Whenever possible, I have provided a link to an English translation.

• La Secchia Rapita (The Rape of the Bucket) by Alessandro Tassoni [English translation]
• La Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy) by Dante [English translation]
• Il Pastor Fido (The Faithful Shepherd) by Giovanni Battista Guarini [English translation]
• Ricciardetto by Niccolò Forteguerri [English translation]
• Il Congresso di Citera (The Congress of Cythera) by Francesco Algarotti [English translation]
• Orlando Furioso (The Frenzy of Orlando) by Ludovico Ariosto [English translation]
• La Gerusalemme LIberta (The Jerusalem Delivered) by Tasso Torquato [English translation]
• Il Morgante by Luigi Pulci [English translation]
• Opere (Works) by Niccolo Machiavelli [English translation]
• Il Malmantile Racquistato by Lorenzo Lippi
• Le Rime by Franceso Petrarca
• Aminta Favola Boscareccia by Tasso Torquato
• Il Toracchione Desolato by Bartolomeo Corsini

'That was the sole moment when her firmness abandoned her.'

image: A wax tableau of the royal family hearing the news of the murder of the princesse de Lamballe

source: my scan/collection

From the account of Marie Thérèse Charlotte, duchesse d'Angouleme, on the dreadful day of September 3rd, 1792:

At three in the afternoon we heard dreadful outcries; my father left the dinner-table and played backgammon with my mother, to control his countenance and be able to say a few words to her without being heard. The municipal guard in the room behaved well; he closed the door and window, also the curtains, so that they might see nothing. The workmen at the Temple and the jailer Rocher joined the murderers, which increased the noise. Several officers of the National Guard and some municipals arrived; the first desired that my father should show himself at the window. The municipals fortunately opposed this; but my father, having asked what was happening, a young officer replied: "Well, if you want to know, it is the head of Mme. de Lamballe they wish to show you."

My mother was seized with horror; that was the sole moment when her firmness abandoned her. The municipals scolded the officer, but my father, with his usual kindness, excused him, saying it was not the officer's fault, but his own for having questioned him. The noise lasted till five o'clock.

The tumult was hardly over before Pétion, instead of exerting himself to stop the massacre, coldly sent his secretary to my father to reckon about money. This man was very ridiculous, and said many things which would have made us laugh at another moment; he thought my mother remained standing on his account; for since that awful scene she had continued standing, motionless, and seeing nothing that took place in the room. The municipal guard who had sacrificed his scarf at the door made my father pay for it. My aunt and I heard the générale beaten all night; my unhappy mother did not even try to sleep; we listened to her sobs.

A miniature of the princesse de Lamballe

credit: (C) Musée du Louvre, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Martine Beck-Coppola

A portrait of Marie-Thérèse-Louise Savoie-Carignan, the princesse de Lamballe, by Claude Bornet. This miniature portrait was completed in 1789, just three years before the princesse's murder during the September Massacres.

Even More Costumes from the Devonshire Costume Ball of 1897

Last month, I made a post about the elaborate "Marie Antoinette" costume worn by Frances Evelyn, countess of Warwick, to the extravagant Devonshire costume ball of 1897. But Frances--popularly known as Daisy--was not the only fashionable attendee to chose a figure from the world of Marie Antoinette. Here are a few of the more sumptuous, rich and glittering costumes that brought a little 18th century into the Devonshire ball.

 image: Emily Theresa, Baroness Ampthill, as the princesse de Lamballe

credit: ©V&A Lafayette Negative Archive

Emily Theresa, Baroness Ampthill, was the Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1885 to 1901. She chose to don the guise of the Princesse de Lamballe, the murdered friend and confidante of Marie Antoinette. Perhaps her choice was inspired by her own loyalty to her sovereign, Queen Victoria? Her costume was created by Alias of London, and was described in The Echo's report of the elaborte event as a "...brocade of blue and gold, underdress of blue satin trimmed with real Louis XV lace. Coiffure poudre, with feathers and diamonds."

image: Evelyn Elizabeth Forbes as Elisabeth Christine of Austria
credit: ©V&A Lafayette Negative Archive

Evelyn Elizabeth Forbes, later Mrs. William Dodge James, as Elisabeth Christine of Austria. Elisabeth Christine, who married Archduke Karl of Austria in 1708, was the mother of the future Maria Theresa. Evelyn's gown was described in The Court Journal as a "...costume of stiff silver tissue, through which glimmered an underdress of antique cerise taffeta. The reproduction was quite a chef-d'oeuvre; the long pointed corsage being enhanced by priceless point lace entwined with roses in palest pink; those flowers, in various sizes, were scattered over the entire toilette and gave to it a charming pre-Raphaelite effect."

 

image: Georgian Elizabeth, Countess Howe, as Queen Marie Leczinska
credit: ©V&A Lafayette Negative Archive 

Georgiana Elizabeth, Countess Howe, chose Queen Marie Leczinska, the consort of Louis XV, for her costume. Marie Leczinska, a devout Catholic, was the longest serving queen consort of France.

 

image: Theresa Susey Helen as Maria Theresa

credit: ©V&A Lafayette Negative Archive 

Theresa Susey Helen, Marchioness of Londonderry, chose the incomparable Maria Theresa of Austria for the ball. Her costume, described in The Queen, was a glittering marvel: "...gown of richest cream satin, copied from a picture in South Kensington Museum, beautifully embroidered in shades of gold and pearls. Stomacher of magnificent diamonds, with ropes of pearls festooned on each side. Train of rich cream acanthus leaf brocade, fastened on the left shoulder with a huge diamond buckle, and at the waist with another, and edged with thick silver cord. Necklace of pear shaped pearls, with another diamond necklace above, and a diamond crown." Theresa also wore the famous Londonderry Tiara, which used real diamonds, pearls and other jewels. 

 

The Devonshire costume ball of 1897 was a veritable "who's who" of London society in the 19th century. Ladies and gentlemen alike wanted to make a fashionable splash that would surely guarantee them a spot--and a long paragraph--in the weekly society papers. Diamonds, pearls, rich fabrics and gowns that cost a fortune were the rule--not the exception!

 

If you were transported into the elegant heights of 19th century high society, what figure would you choose for the Devonshire costume ball? 

 

 

"It is the head of Mme. de Lamballe they wish to show you."

image credit: my collection

A vintage postcard from the waxwork museum, Musée Grévin, depicting the infamous scene of September 3rd in the Temple, when a mob attempted to show Marie Antoinette the head of the Princesse de Lamballe. Here is the event, as described in Madame Royale's memoirs:

"Several officers of the National Guard and some municipals arrived; the first desired that my father should show himself at the window. The municipals fortunately opposed this; but my father, having asked what was happening, a young officer replied: "Well, if you want to know, it is the head of Mme. de Lamballe they wish to show you." My mother was seized with horror; that was the sole moment when her firmness abandoned her."