Goldwork garments made for the coronation of Charles X of France in 1825. The first photo shows the shoulder of a tabard worn by one of the King’s Heralds, and the other garment is the habit worn by the Dauphin, featuring goldwork on “cloth of gold.” Embroidery of this quality is an underappreciated art form, in my opinion. These are exhibited in the Tau Palace next to Reims Cathedral.
This was the last French royal coronation because the next and last king of France, Louis Philippe I, wisely opted not to have a coronation.
François d’Orléans, Prince of Joinville, is perhaps best known to Napoleon fans as the commander of La Belle Poule, the ship that returned Napoleon’s remains to France in 1840. The Prince of Joinville – the son of a French king – had a storied naval career, was a notable painter of watercolours, and wrote some delightful memoirs. You might remember him from my post about vintage photos of French royalty, in which he stood out as one of the princes who served in the American Civil War. For a closer look at his life and his art, see “François d’Orléans, Prince of Joinville: Artist & Sailor.”
The King … did not want to leave the chateau even to take a walk, in the first week after the delivery. When the Queen awoke he was first at her bedside, spent part of the morning with her and came back on different occasions in the afternoon, stayed there all evening and spent his time between the Queen and his august child, to whom he shows the most touching love.
–Ambassador Mercy to Maria Theresa, 25 January 1779 [translation: Margaret MacLeod, There Were Three of Us in the Relationship]
