Empress Eugénie, 1863 - Public domain book illustration

Empress Eugénie, 1863. From a photograph by Georges Spingler
Identifier: lifeintuileriesu00bick (find matches)
Title: Life in the Tuileries under the second empire
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Bicknell, Anna L
Subjects: Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1808-1873 France -- Court and courtiers
Publisher: New York : The Century co.
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



Text Appearing Before Image:
es of crack-brained exploits and hair-breadthescapes. One of the most amusing though reallythe most pitiable of the former, represented hishouskeeper, a fat old woman, with an agonizedexpression of fright on her upturned face, heldhorizontally by two men, while her master leapedhis horse backward and forward over her. Thepoor creature was evidently terrified out of hersenses, and no wonder. The Princess Metternich had no beauty; her facewas of absolutely simian type, only redeemed bybright intelligent eyes; her complexion was dark,her mouth was large, and her nose was flat. Evenher figure was more than slender, and devoid ofall beauty of form; but owing to her remarkableelegance of demeanor, her animated expression ofcountenance, and her richly fashionable dress, shewas considered attractive, notwithstanding herphysical disadvantages. She was passionately fond of dress, and in this,as in all things, her taste led her into eccentricityregardless of expense. At the Austrian embassy, her
Text Appearing After Image:
EMPRESS EUGENIE, 1863. FROM A PH^IOoKAl-H lit ut^HCtS SPINGCER. UNDER THE SECOND EMPIRE 129 rooms, furniture, receptions, carriages, and horseswere only surpassed by the court, and her examplehad a pernicious influence on the general mania forextravagance of all kinds. The turnout of the Emperors carriages, horses,and liveries was unsurpassed in Europe, under thedirection of General Fleury, who was more remark-able in this respect than as a military commander.In fact, he would probably never have reached suchhigh promotion had he not been the friend of theEmperor, and his auxiliary in the coup detat,when he was only Captain Fleury at the Elysee.He was neither liked nor much esteemed in general;but he certainly performed admirably his duties asGrand ^cuyer, or what at the English courtwould be termed Master of the Horse. The Emperor and Empress were the kindest ofhosts, most anxious to amuse their guests and tomake their visits as pleasant as possible; thereforethe Princess Metternich