BONAPARTE ELISA: (1777-1820) Grand Duchess of Tuscany 1809-14. Younger sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. A good L.S., 'Elisa', with a three lines in her hand, two pages, 4to, n.p., n.d., to Madame Bernardini, in French. Elisa responds to her correspondent who tries to find a place where to stay for an important artist she wishes to help, and states in part `Je ne demande pas mieux que de protéger cet artiste; mais je n´ai de disponible à Massa que mon Palais, et un petit Palais en face qui es ten si mauvais état qu´il est Presque impossible de s´y loger. Cependant si Mr. Comolli veut en profiter malgré cela, vous n´avez qu´à en prevenir…´ (“I would be very pleased to protect this artist; but I only have my Palace available in Massa, and a small Palace opposite which is in such bad condition that it is almost impossible to find accommodation there. However, if Mr. Comolli wants to take advantage of it despite this, you only have to inform…”) Elisa further states `…vous pouvez en attendant l´assurer que j´apprécie beaucoup ses talents, et qu´il peut compter sur toute ma protection´ (“..you can in the meantime assure him that I greatly appreciate his talents, and that he can count on all my protection”) Before concluding Elisa adds a three lines holograph saying in part `Ma santé est très bonne ainsi que celle du Prince et de notre fille. Je vous remercie de votre souvenir..´ (“My health is very fine as well as the Prince´s one and the one of our daughter. Thank you for your kind words”) Paper with a Bertini watermark. With blank integral leaf. VG

 

Giovanni Battista Comolli (1775-1831) Italian Sculptor. Comolli was best known for his multiple busts of personalities of his time, including the very large statue of Napoleon in 1801, entitled Napoleon the Peacemaker.

 

Felice Baciocchi (1762-1841) husband of Elisa Bonaparte. Corsican noble and officer. Prince of Lucca. He was an amateur violinist and studied with Niccolo Paganini who had an affair with his wife Elisa. Their daughter, who Caroline refers to in the present letter, was Elisa Napoleone Baciocchi (1806-1869), the only child of the couple to live beyond their teenage years.