A Son Altesse Imperiale Madame La Princesse Borghese.

Format:

Manuscript

Musical score

Contributor:

Murat, Lucien, 1803-1878., Former owner.

Fox, Marian., Former owner.

Foreign Imprints Collection (Athenaeum of Philadelphia)

Language:

Italian

Subjects (All):

Bonaparte, Paolina, 1780-1825--Songs and music.

Bonaparte, Paolina.

Vocal duets with keyboard instrument--Scores.

Vocal duets with keyboard instrument.

Genre:

Scores.

Physical Description:

1 vocal score ([1], 19 p.) ; 31 cm.

Place of Publication:

[Italy? : s.n., between 1803 and 1814?]

Language Note:

Italian words.

Notes:

Inscribed on front endpaper: "Given to me by Prince Murat, Bordentown, N.J., 1847. Marian Fox."

Unpublished vocal composition written in manuscript for soprano, tenor and pianoforte.

Cover title.

Bound in red leather with gilt tooled binding; title stamped in gold on front cover.

Probably written for Pauline Bonaparte (Princess Borghese) by an unknown composer while she was living in Italy. Pauline (1780-1825) was Napoleon's favorite sister and a woman of great beauty. She accompanied her husband, General Leclerc, on the expedition to Haiti. After Leclerc's death Napoleon arranged her marriage (1803) to Camillo Borghese, a member of the Roman nobility. Although Pauline did not emigrate to the U.S. (as did many in the Napoleon family), somehow the musical composition made its way to the United States, most likely through her nephew Napoleon Lucien Charles Murat (1803-1878). "Prince Murat" arrived in America sometime between 1823-1825, settling in Bordentown, New Jersey. According to the inscription, in 1847 he gave the score to Marian Fox before returning to France in 1848.

Local Notes:

Athenaeum copy: Exhibited: "Livres français conservés grâce à la Fondation Florence Gould," at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, 2003.