.. Julie died in childhood.. and Zenaide Laetitia Julie Bonaparte married Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1822. She became Princess of Musignano. (portrait: Zenaide as Princess in 1834. Note the very late Regency style as fabrics became heavy, ornaments somewhat Spanish or Rococco, waistlines dropped, and the wide, dropped sleeves began …
Category: Fashion History Blog
Joseph Bonaparte married in 1794..
… Marie Julie Clary was part of what was considered a “love triangle” with his brother Napoleon and Desiree Clary. The novel “Desiree”, written by Annemarie Selinko told the story which was made into a movie starring Marlon Brando as Napoleon, and Cameron Mitchell as Joseph. (photos: movie poster and …
Joseph Bonaparte was connected to the United States…
.. in 1800 it was Joseph who signed the treaty between France and the US for Friendship and Commerce. He lived mostly in the US from 1817-1832 in New York and Philadelphia. His home was a sanctuary for French expatriates. He built Point Breeze in Bordentown, New Jersey, and it …
Joseph was the eldest of Napoleon’s brothers…
… all brothers were born in Corsica around the time it was invaded by France. The parents swore allegiance to France, and Joseph served in the “Cinq-Cents” and was French Ambassador to Rome. In 1795, he was on the Council of Ancients which helped his brother Napoleon I to overthrow …
We’ve been really busy!
The Silhouettes staff is in various stages of development for 4 projects. Watch the progress of design and research on the web pages for each of these 4 women under Projects in Development!
Jerome & Betsy’s son tied the French Royal bloodline to America…
…Jerome Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, and his wife Elizabeth “Betsy” Patterson of Baltimore were separated when Betsy sailed to France. Denied entrance by Napoleon, she had her child in England. That son, Charles Joseph Bonaparte, in 1905 became the Secretary of Navy for the United States under President Roosevelt. In …
Betsy eventually returned to France…
.. at Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo. She was finally accepted fully into French society as “one of theirs” and highly celebrated. (Betsy married Napoleon’s eldest brother, and was the connection between French royals and American elites). In the meantime, Jerome had married Catherine of Wurttemburg (previously discussed in detail). (portraits: …
Need to look nice for a Family Reunion?
Get your 1905 costume from Silhouettes!
Why all the French in our American fashion history??
Silhouettes builds costumes depicting American women 1740-1814. Picture the world in the middle of that, say 1804 as understood by a German in the map below: The new United States had been a colony of England. The West Indies were part of England. India, and many African countries were part …
Betsy Patterson Bonaparte was the richest woman in America…
.. when her husband Jerome deserted her under the orders of Napoleon, a pregnant Betsy sailed to France. Napoleon forbid her landing on French soil. The divorce was finally complete in 1815; in the meantime, Betsy lived in Baltimore, Maryland, USA with her father, where she managed his estates and …