PRINCE IMPÉRIAL, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (1856-1879)

PRINCE IMPÉRIAL, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (1856-1879)

Portrait of the Imperial Prince – Period print, slightly later edition
[London, c. 1873–1875], cabinet format
Cabinet format, print size: 14.8 × 10.2 cm
Mounted on thick card: 16.3 × 10.7 cm
Photographer’s credit to the cabinet in the lower margin of the recto and on the verso
Minor damage to the lower right corner (no tear to the print), skillfully restored

A superb and very touching portrait of the Prince impérial

From the Christopher Forbes collection

The young Prince is here portrayed during his years of exile in England. In this photograph, one recognizes his slightly melancholic gaze, inherited from his mother, Empress Eugénie. Of rare elegance, he wears a wing-collar shirt (“white tie”) with small stiff points, accompanied by a perfectly tailored black jacket.

This photographic print is among those issued on the occasion of the numerous tributes paid to the Prince, who was tragically killed in an ambush in Southern Africa on June 1, 1879, at the age of 23.

In superb condition overall, save for a minor flaw to the lower right corner, skilfully restored (see scans).