Madame LaCoste

Madame LaCoste

Watercolor of Madame LaCoste painted by Charlotte Bonaparte at Point Breeze. Signed and dated in lower left corner. Emilie Lacoste was the beautiful Creole wife of Felix Lacoste, publisher of Joseph Bonaparte's New York City newspaper, Le Courrier des Etats-Unis. She was brought to "Point Breeze" as a companion for Charlotte Bonaparte during her three years in America. After Charlotte returned to Europe, Emilie remained at "Point Breeze" to comfort the lonely ex-king as his mistress. (She later returned to Paris where she engaged in a tempestuous love affair with the poet Prosper Merimee which ended in a duel between the poet and her husband.)

Charlotte Bonaparte

1823

1973.08.01

Frame 8.5" H x 10.25" W

Watercolor on wove paper

Bonaparte Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Gift of Emily G. Hopkinson, 1973