Lot n° 7
Estimation :
4000 - 5000
EUR
[NAPOLÉON IV (1856-1879) Prince Imperial]. 4 manuscripts by - Lot 7
[NAPOLÉON IV (1856-1879) Prince Imperial]. 4 manuscripts by Napoléon de BASSANO and Ernest THÉROULDE, [July 12, 1879].
Interesting set around the minutes of the opening of the Prince Imperial's coffin.
Notes taken in pencil on 4 bifolios of mourning paper in-4: "Notes taken during the ceremony of the translation of the body of the Prince Imperial from one coffin to another at Woolwich and which served for the doctors' report and for the report written by M. Rouher and drawn up by the Duke of Bassano [in fact his son Napoleon] assisted by M. Théroulde July 11, 1879". The notes have been crossed out as the minutes were drawn up; with a list of those present.
Draft of the minutes of the doctors: barons Lucien Corvisart and Hippolyte Larrey, drawn up on July 11, 1879 at 5 h. ½ in the afternoon at Woolwich" in a building dependent on the arsenal (4 p. in-fol. on blue paper), with numerous erasures, corrections and marginal additions.
First draft of the minutes, written by Théroulde, with marginal corrections and additions by Napoléon de Bassano (6 p. in-fol.).
Clean-up of the minutes by Théroulde, with erasures, further corrections and additions by Napoléon de Bassano (4 in-fol. bifolios of mourning paper headed Camden Place, Chislehurst). Designation of those present (the Marquis of Roccagiovine and Count Joseph Primoli are added) at the coffin delivery aboard the Enchantress; transport of the coffin to the chapelle ardente set up in Woolwich Dockyard; decision taken to open the coffin: "1° to ascertain the identity of the body, 2° to determine as far as possible from the state of the wounds the circumstances of the battle in which His Imperial Highness died, 3° to assess whether embalming has been carried out properly. [...] It is important to the family of His Imperial Highness, it is important to history that the most meticulous investigations be pursued into the event which led to the death of the young Prince, head of the Napoleonic dynasty which has long reigned over the French nation. This sentiment is, moreover, only the echo of a highly expressed public opinion". Visit of condolences from the princes of the English royal family. The first coffin is then opened, followed by the second, containing a tin box with Dr. Turnbull's death certificate, three photographs placed on the Prince's chest (the Emperor, the Empress and his cousin the Duchess of Medinaceli), and a rosary blessed by Pius IX. The body appears to have been well embalmed. Barons Corvisart and Larrey then carried out the examinations to establish the Prince's identity, then to describe the various wounds, all received in the front, enabling the circumstances of the death to be retraced: "The Prince Imperial, alone, attacked by numerous assailants, faced them, defended himself with his saber, used his left arm as a shield and only fell after being riddled with wounds, all received in the chest, which he presented to the enemy. A heroic death which is an honor for his race"... The body was then placed in a new coffin "made of oak lined with lead and surrounded by an outer mahogany coffin lined with dark purple velvet. The inside of this coffin is made of white satin edged with a purple satin band. The body rests on fine sheets marked with the initial of a crowned N"; photographs and rosary beads are replaced in the coffin, along with a gold medal bearing the Prince's effigy and a medal of the Virgin; a lead lid is affixed, bearing an inscription (transcribed), covered by a purple velvet lid with two gilded copper plates and a gilded cross. The clergy then entered the chapelle ardente to proceed with the raising of the bier, "carried by ten officers of the Royal Artillery, placed on a cannon and wrapped in the English and French flags", to Camden place (Chislehurst), to be placed in a chapelle ardente "where the body is to remain deposited until the funeral"...
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