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Jeanne Bonaparte

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Jeanne Bonaparte
Marquise de Villeneuve-Escaplon
Born(1861-09-15)15 September 1861
Orval Abbey, Belgium
Died25 July 1910(1910-07-25) (aged 48)
Paris, France
SpouseChristian de Villeneuve-Esclapon
HouseBonaparte
FatherPierre Napoleon Bonaparte
MotherÉléonore-Justine Ruflin

Princess Jeanne Bonaparte (15 September 1861 – 25 July 1910) was a great-niece of Napoleon I of France, and the only daughter of Pierre Napoleon Bonaparte by his wife Éléonore-Justine Ruflin.[1] She was well known in French society as an artist and sculptor, and was married to Christian de Villeneuve-Esclapon.

Biography

Early life

Jeanne was born on 15 September 1861 in Orval Abbey in Belgium.[2] She was one of five children born to her parents, although she only had one sibling that survived to adulthood: Roland Bonaparte.[3] Though born during the reign of Napoleon III of France, her family was never well received at the French imperial court.[3] He was very intelligent and well-educated; in his youth, he did much traveling.[2] Upon his return from fighting in Spain, he devoted himself to the study of literature and history; his writings were much admired by critics.[2] One observer commented at their wedding:

Jeanne Bonaparte advanced up the nave leaning on the arm of her brother... She has little of her mother's striking beauty, although she resembles her a good deal, but she is tall, distinguished looking, and has a wealth of raven tresses...[4]

Jeanne and Christian had six children.

Later life

Jeanne had a Paris salon that was frequented by illustrious writers and painters, as well as the cream of American society. Her husband was, apart from politics, mostly interested in occultism.[5] George Greville Moore, an English officer, was a contemporary of Jeanne's. He wrote that she:

used to make a great display of toilette at certain balls. She was remarkable for her beauty, which was more of the Oriental style; she was very dark and had a sallow complexion, but beautiful black eyes and long eyelashes. I remember one evening every one crowding around the staircase to see her arrive at a ball. On that occasion she wore a white dress trimmed with water-lilies, with a tremendously long train, and no jewelry whatsoever. She rarely, if ever, danced; her long train scarcely allowed it.[6]

On 21 November 1907, Jeanne served as a witness for the marriage of her niece Princess Marie Bonaparte to Prince George of Greece and Denmark.

Jeanne died on 25 July 1910 in Paris, at the age of 48.[1]

Ancestry

References

  1. ^ a b Lundy, Darryl. "The Peerage: Jeanne Bonaparte". Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "Princess Jeanne Bonaparte", Galveston Daily News, 11 November 1894
  3. ^ a b "Princess Jeanne Bonaparte", The Washington Post, 14 October 1894
  4. ^ "Two Weddings in Paris", The New York Times, Paris, 10 April 1882
  5. ^ "Romance of Princess Jeanne Bonaparte", The New York Times, Paris, 29 October 1905
  6. ^ Greville Moore, George (1907). Society Recollections in Paris and Vienna, 1879-1904. London: John Long. p. 8.