This was a rather exciting find! It appears that the Colonel commissioned 3 x paintings from Danish artist Ernst Meyer through the icelandic sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen. Just when I think I've exhausted all the research avenues the Internet can offer, a little gem sparkles at me. The Colonel mentions copies of two paintings and a... Continue Reading →
Like many wealthy people, Colonel Thorn invested in and gave contribitions to a slew of beneficaries and projects outside his patronange of the Arts. Here is the list I have tracked down so far. These details paint a composite picture that bring the Colonel and his family to life. Below is a list for me... Continue Reading →
In an earlier post, I pondered on who was in the painting below, which is listed in the Frick collection as Colonel Thorn and family, and I decided it was Ellen or Alice, Ida, Eugene and Colonel Thorn. I checked back recently and Frick had updated their archive details (or maybe I'd missed them first... Continue Reading →
The second part of Osgood's reflections is a sarcastic account of Charles Lever tasting sherry with Colonel Thorn. The Marquis de Penafiel mentioned in the excerpt was a Spanish noble and either the 11th or 12th Duke of Osuna. Charles Lever was an Irish writer and editor, author of The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer among... Continue Reading →
It seems that in 1843 Colonel Thorn was witness of the the marriage between the New York banking heiress, Mary Mason Jones (Edith Wharton's great aunt) and the Baron de Trobriand. I'm curious as to whether there was an actual connection between them, or if he was merely called upon as a well known American... Continue Reading →
Angelina "Jauncey" Thorn was the eldest daughter of the Thorn children. She was born in 1813 and married at the American Embassy in Paris in 1835 to Lewis (Louis) de Pau of New York, grandson of Comte de Grasse. Like her brothers William and James, she was forced to change her surname to "Jauncey" in order... Continue Reading →
In a previous post, I looked at how Jane Mary (Thorn) de Pierres (1821 - 1873) was immortalised in paintings and scultpures, but I'd like to dip into her life a bit more, and try and recreate a picture of her personality. Other than being the third eldest girl of thirteen children, not a lot... Continue Reading →
And so the recounts of the Colonel's masked ball continues. If nothing else, I will one day write this in a fictional form because... well I do love a good party! COLONEL THORN'S BALL Everyone in Paris knows the Hotel Monaco, a veritable reception area, which belongs to Mme Adélaïde, which M. Colonel Thorn, this... Continue Reading →
The Colonel's masked ball in 1840 with the Louis Quatorze theme was written about in many places. I've outlined the evening in two earlier posts but I think it's worth sharing other accounts of the night, so that we can see exactly what an incredible event it was. Here is a version of the evening... Continue Reading →
The renown artist, G.P. A. (George) Healy had an enduring friendship with his patron, Colonel Thorn. Not only did he paint many portraits of the family, but he had his "own room" in their Sixteenth St residence in the Flatiron district in Manhattan. They met on a voyage to Paris in 1831. From that first... Continue Reading →
The Colonel and Mrs Thorn 
[…] Mr Maurer […]
I noticed that too..nicknames add even more color to the picture
Oh, yes I found the photo amd put it on the poat about the Thorn granchildren! From Jane's letters it…
I shared her portrait and her father James with you…James is the black framed portrait vs the giant gold framed…
Dear Jacqueline, I feel the same as you. It has brought so much to life. Jane is clearly very fond…