LOUIS FRANÇAIS (1814-97)
The Bois de Boulogne
dated 1855Pencil, watercolour and bodycolour | 32.8 x 47.1 cm (whole object) | RCIN 920068
The suburban park depicted here was renovated at Napoleon III’s command. The emperor had previously lived in England and admired informal English parks and gardens, and the design of the Bois de Boulogne was based on Hyde Park in London. Victoria and Albert rode through it in their carriage almost every day on their way into Paris, and thought it ‘quite beautiful’.