I should warn you not to expect this collection of notes to be linear. I am writing as information comes to light, or as I feel so inclined. Today, I'd like to talk about Les Bretignolles, which was owned by Etienne and Jane de Pierres in the mid to late 1800's. They are both buried... Continue Reading →
The early nineteenth century in Europe produced some astounding art and literature. I had the pleasure of seeing The Second Republic exhibition at the Musee Dorsay in Paris in 2016. What a revelation! Rich artwork, beautiful sculpture and splendid objets d'art. The aristocracy and the wealthy indulged money and time seeking to record and immortalise... Continue Reading →
I'm so excited to share this with you!! Last week, a doctoral candidate Alba Campo Rosilla from the University of Delaware got in contact with me to say that she is writing a dissertation on G P A Healy. In her research she discovered a portrait of Colonel Thorn, and who I believe is Ida... Continue Reading →
I've mentioned on occasions that one of my interests in Colonel Thorn stems from his patronage of artists. And certainly it seems that among the beau monde of the time, he was an active procurer of art, sculpture and literature. Research into history is like a trail of slowly disintegrating breadcrumbs and wandering down the... Continue Reading →
Today Jacqueline shared with me this image of Euphemia White van Rensselaer (1842) painted by George Healey. Euphemia was John Church Cruger's wife, and step-mother-in-law to Jane Mary Jauncey Cruger. Apparently Jackie Kennedy loved it so much she had it hanging in the Whitehouse. This was painted a year before she married Cruger, and her... Continue Reading →
I have already mentioned that one of the most rewarding aspects of this project is how it has acquainted me with new relatives. This week, I heard from Jacqueline who is a descendant of James Jauncey Thorn, Herman and Jane's second eldest son. As a memory jog, James Jauncey Thorn (b. 1814; d. 1845) is buried... Continue Reading →
One of my newly discovered relatives, Yolande de Ziegler, kindly sent me this photo from the Geneva art show where Tim Walker was being exhibited. It is a mash-up of the the original Winterhalter painting with Eugenie and her Ladies in Waiting. Jane Thorn is on the left of the top of the picture with... Continue Reading →
I'm going to use this post to cobble together any peripheral pieces of information about the Ball. One interesting snippet was from the Countess of Granville's diary where she moans about having to attend. It would be interesting to know if she had a personal issue with Herman and Jane, or it was simply part... Continue Reading →
The accounts I have read about Colonel Thorn's famous costume ball held on March 3rd, 1840 at Hotel de Monaco, rival anything F. Scott Fitzgerald imagined for Gatsby. Invited guests were told visit the Versailles museum to study the court life of Louis X1V and the costumes from that period. Countess Granville diarised the upcoming... Continue Reading →
I am hoping to build up a picture of the times. Not just politically, but the everyday moments. What did the Colonel and his family do? Who did they talk to? What would those conversations have been about? This post will be devoted to documenting some of their lunch and dinner guests. Though it is,... Continue Reading →
[…] royal equipages of the King not excepted. He entertained the nobility at his house in Paris, and at the…
Hi Matt, thanks for your message. Can you point me to any research saying they were both called Ots Toch?…
From my research, it seems there were 2 people with the name Ots Toch, both Mom and Daughter. They are…
le fils décédé le 1er SEPTEMBRE
[…] Mr Maurer […]