Photo. Giraudon.
THE MYSTIC MARRIAGE OF S. FRANCIS, BY SASSETTA. SIMONETTA VESPUCCIA, BY PIERRE DI COSIMO.
Musée Condé.
To face page 146
Five large Poussins, two Gaspar Dughets, a portrait of Napoleon by Gerard; and no less than three works by Ingres came also from this same source: namely, the Artist’s own portrait as a youth, a portrait of a Madame Devançay, and the painting of Venus Anadyomene, upon which he is known to have spent much time and thought throughout the last forty years of his life.
Finally, to all these other treasures were added some drawings by Prud’hon. Then in 1882, from the Hamilton Palace Sale interesting portraits by Corneille de Lyon, and a small likeness of Montaigne probably by a late pupil of that master; and at various subsequent London sales drawings were purchased by Botticelli, Canaletto, Tiepolo, Salomon Ruysdael, Dumoustier, Ingres, Van Loo, and Gericault, besides a great number of engravings.
Whilst the Duke was making these important acquisitions he was at the same time gradually rebuilding the old Château of the Condés in order to house them adequately, and it is not to be wondered at that intellectual France took a great interest in this vast artistic enterprise. His Royal Highness was elected a Member of the Institut de France and invited to occupy the chair of M. de Cardaillac at the Académie des Beaux Arts. It was on this occasion that Victor Hugo, whom the Prince had referred to in his address of eulogy upon his predecessor, wrote him the following memorable letter:
Cher et Royal Confrère,
Je viens de lire vos nobles paroles sur moi. Je vous ecris emu. Vous êtes né prince et devenu homme. Pour moi votre royauté a cessé d’être politique et maintenant est historique; ma république ne s’en inquiète pas. Vous faites partie de la grandeur de la France. Et je vous aime.[27]