LOUIS BEROUD (1852-1930) Tsar Nicolas II... - Lot 233 - Osenat

Lot 233
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Estimation :
30000 - 40000 EUR
LOUIS BEROUD (1852-1930) Tsar Nicolas II... - Lot 233 - Osenat
LOUIS BEROUD (1852-1930) Tsar Nicolas II and Tsarina Alexandra Fedorovna visiting the tomb of Napoleon at the Invalides in 1896 accompanied by President Félix Faure, General Paul Edouard Arnoux, Governor of the Invalides, General Billot, Minister of War, Admiral Gervais and Baron de Mohrenheim, Russian Ambassador Signed and dated 1897 Oil on canvas, wooden frame and gilded stucco with cartouches 65 x 48.5 cm Provenance: French private collection Historical context: On October 7, 1896, Nicolas II, the Tsar of Russia, and Tsarina Alexandra Fedorovna were received in Paris to inaugurate the Alexander III Bridge and cement the Franco-Russian alliance. It was a real popular triumph, especially as a school holiday had been declared the day before and the Western Railway Company had chartered "pleasure trains": 930,000 people had arrived from the provinces. The laying of the foundation stone of the Alexandre III bridge, which links the Invalides and the Champs Elysées, is the highlight of the visit. The bridge is named after the father of the Tsar, Alexander III, the architect of the Franco-Russian alliance, which was ratified on 4 January 1894. "After Notre-Dame, where the archbishop of Paris received them, they visited the Pantheon, the Invalides, the Institute and inaugurated, with the bridge which is to bear the name of Alexander III, the works of our future Universal Exhibition." Henri de Pène for Le Gaulois, October 1896. "It was only at half past eleven that the Russian sovereigns, having arrived by the Boulevard Montparnasse and the Avenue de Breteuil, entered by car through the great gate in front of the Church of the Invalides on the Place Vauban. The four little drums, wards of the Invalides, beat in the fields. And the old soldiers, with their legendary uniforms, on which the white harness stands out, lined up in two rows, presented their lances with white and red pennants. The Tsar and the Tsarina, descended from the imperial daumont, as well as M. Félix Faure, were received by General Billot, Minister of War, and General Arnoux, commander of the hotel, surrounded by the members of the Superior Council of War and the army corps commanders. The procession immediately entered the Dome, with M. Félix Faure giving his arm to the Tsarina. In front of the crypt, everyone stops, while only the Tsar, the Minister of War, General Arnoux and the Russian officers go down to the Emperor's tomb. The Tsar looked on, his head bowed. (...) During the few minutes that the young Emperor of all the Russias spent in meditation in front of this tombstone (...) The Tsar raises his head and resumes his march. The procession follows and enters the church after the sovereign, where the tarnished standards and flags hang from the vault, each of which is equivalent to a page of history. It is the Russian anthem that resounds above, played by the organ held by Gabriel Pierné. The Tsar and his retinue are just passing by. Here they are at the entrance to the main courtyard. The bronze statue of Napoleon, from its pedestal in the upper gallery, contemplates the scene. From the other galleries of the Court of Honour, all eyes are on the imperial couple. One details the elegant and simple toilet of the empress (...) the Tsar in the very simple uniform of a colonel of Russian infantry, if I am not mistaken, dark green the cap of astrakhan, breeches puffed up in the half boots the air and the step of a young, very young officer. The hand on the cap making the military salute while passing in front of the line of old braves, most of whom wear the Crimean medal on their chest. Always the striking contrast of the present with the past. The visit to the artillery museum lasts only a moment. It is ten minutes past noon. The day is progressing. The Czar, passing his hand with a customary gesture over his moustache and beard, crossed the court of honour again with the whole procession, heading for the great gate of the Esplanade. Under the archway, the Russian sovereigns bid farewell to the Minister of War, to old General Arnoux, walking on his cane, and to all their military entourage. They got back in the car with the president of the republic to return to the embassy. "Henri de Pène , Le Gaulois, October 1896. Biography: Louis BEROUD (1852-1930) He was awarded the medal of honour at the Salon in 1882 and won the bronze medal at the Universal Exhibition in 1889 and in 1990. It is him who, in 1911, noticed the theft of the Mona Lisa. Painted many interiors of Parisian museums, copying famous works in their cases, scenes of life and historical events. TSAR NICHOLAS LOST IN CONTEMPLATION BY NAPOLEON'S TOMB' Le Gaulois, 1896 TSAR NICHOLAS II & TSARINA ALEXANDRA FEDOROVNA VISITING NAPOLEON'S TOMB AT LES INVALIDES IN 1896 ACCOMPANIED BY PRESIDENT FELIX FAURE, GENERAL ARNOUX (GOVERNOR OF LES INVALIDES), GENERAL BILLOT (MINISTER OF WAR), ADMIRAL GERVAIS (ATTACHE TO THE TSARINA) & BARON VON MOH
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