Sunday, April 22, 2012

Point Breeze: Joseph Bonaparte's Estate in New Jersey

Not so many outside the Mid-Atlantic region seem to be aware that Joseph Bonaparte, former King of Spain and the Indies (and King of Naples before that) and elder brother of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte I, lived in the United States as the Comte de Survilliers.  There were large numbers of artists and craftsmen who came to this country seeking opportunities, but Mr. Bonaparte, as he was sometime called, was one of the most significant of the emigres to become a catalyst in bringing European culture to early 19th century America.
Joseph Bonaparte in a portrait by Jean-Baptiste Wicar, 1803.
Image from Wikipedia.
Abdicating the Spanish throne after the defeat of French forces to the British in the Battle of Vitoria in 1813, he returned to France.  But with an 1816 French law banishing the Bonapartes from France, Joseph Bonaparte and his party (minus his wife) sailed to New York incognito.  After a time in New York City and then Philadelphia, Joseph Bonaparte became enamored with the countryside of western New Jersey and bought an estate of 211 acres called Point Breeze in Bordentown, near the confluence of Crosswicks Creek and the Delaware River for $17,000.  Reportedly financed with the sale of some of the crown jewels of Spain, Bonaparte was comfortably ensconced in a mansion with his fine and decorative arts collections, library, and entourage.  The Count was known as a generous, gracious host, entertaining guests both local citizens and friends who were some of the most distinguished men in the country. 
"View from Bordentown Hill on the Delaware" by C.B. Lawrence.
Point Breeze is visible on the horizon on the right.
Image from New Jersey Historical Society.
Bonaparte sometimes lived in Philadelphia during the winter and became close friends with Stephen Girard, General Thomas Cadwalader and Joseph Hopkinson, president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.  The Bonaparte estate became a cultural center and often guests were rowed up the Delaware River in a sixteen-oar barge, given to the Count by Girard.  Enlarged to 1,800 acres, the property was improved with trees planted, twelve miles of bridle paths and carriage drives added, and an arched brick causeway across a man-made lake was constructed, all at a cost believed to be over $300,000 (over four and a half million in today's dollars).
Point Breeze, The Estate of Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte at Bordentown, New Jersey"
Attributed to Charles B. Lawrence, c. 1817-1820.
Image from the Art Institute of Chicago.
A fire in 1820 caused great destruction to the mansion, but many furnishings were saved and a new house was constructed.  Some accounts say that the former stables near the road were incorporated into the new house with even more opulent rooms than before including a grand staircase, a state dining room, and a library, all decorated with paintings by Velasquez, Rubens, Canaletto, Murillo, Rembrandt and DaVinci.  In addition, there was a 'Statuary Room' containing antique bronze castings from Pompeii, a "Young Diana and Hound" by Bartolini, a figure of "Ceres" and "A Female Figure in Roman Dress" both by Bosio, and several busts of the Bonaparte family members by Conova, according to the E. M. Woodward book BONAPARTE'S PARK AND THE MURATS.
Marble statue of Ceres by Francois-Joseph Bosio, Paris, c. 1808.
Image from Boston Athenaeum.
The Woodward book includes a passage by a visitor who had the privilege of viewing the Count's summer sleeping apartment.  "It consisted of a chamber, dressing and bathing-room, with a small studio, or rather boudoir.  The curtains, canopy and furniture were of light blue satin, trimmed with silver . . . The walls were covered with oil paintings, particularly of young females, with less clothing about them than they or you would have found comfortable in our cold climate, and much less than we found agreeable when the Count, without ceremony, led us before them, and enumerated the beauties of paintings with the air of an accomplished amateur".
Portrait of Julie Clary Bonaparte by Francois Gerard, 1808.
Image from Wikipedia.
The Count went to England for a period, 1832 to 1837, to be closer to France as he was Pretender to the Throne, but returned to Point Breeze 1837 to 1839 before again journeying to England and then to Florence to be reunited with his wife who he had not seen in twenty five years.  Julie Clary Bonaparte forgave her husband's indiscretions. (He had a mistress, Annette Savage, who gave birth to a daughter in 1821 and again in 1822;  one died young and the other later married Colonel Zebulon Howell Benton.  Annette, however, was sent from America with a pay-off to not publish her memoirs).  Joseph Bonaparte died in 1844 and was finally laid to rest in Paris at Les Invalides in 1862 during the rule of his nephew Napoleon III.
Pier Table, one of a pair from Point Breeze, French, 1800-1810.
Image from Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Point Breeze was inherited by his grandson Joseph Lucien Charles Napoleon who held two spectacular auctions of the furnishings before selling the property in 1847.  The lots brought high prices according to accounts, with successful bidders proud to own a part of the classical collection that had once belonged to Joseph Bonaparte.  The sales included upholstered furniture, elaborate curtains, extraordinary gilt light fixtures and large gilt pier mirrors.  Two of the pieces documented from the sale, a pair of "very rich mahogany Side Tables, supported on Egyptian columns, with black marble top and heavy gilt ornaments, (from France.)" were purchased by the Hopkinson family and now belong to the Philadelphis Museum of Art.
Ruins of the house of Bonaparte's secretary that served as a gatehouse to Point Breeze.
Image from New York Public Library.
Point Breeze was purchased by the British consul at Philadelphia who had the house razed and replaced by an Italianate villa.  There were several other houses on the estate, one that housed daughter Zenaide and her husband Prince Charles Lucien.  (Daughter Charlotte also stayed on the estate at times, but there is no record of her having her own house).  Another housed Bonaparte's trusted secretary Maillard and served as a gatehouse.  In 1970, the property was bought by the Divine World Seminary.

Though now just a memory, and a faint one at that, Point Breeze is a notable example of what was once a dynamic center of culture and influence, exposing European tastes to New York and Philadelphia patrons who, in turn, patronized cabinetmakers such as Charles-Honore Lannuier, Joseph B. Barry, Michel Bouvier, and Anthony G. Quervelle.


20 comments:

  1. The second sentence should read "the Good Mr. Bonaparte", distinguishing him from his brother.

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  2. John,

    I had no idea Joseph Benaparte had settled in the U.S. after Napoleon's defeat. He must have sold a lot of Spanish crown jewels to come up with the money to purchase and build such a grandiose estate!

    I love to read your blog for it's educational and flawlessly researched content. Thank you for enlightening us each and every week.

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    1. Thank you, Julieta. I do try for an educational factor in the blog, even if it is just sharing something I find interesting. I am happy that The Devoted Classicist has found an audience. As for "flawlessly researched", I do try for accuracy as well; blogs are an excellent way to spread false or misleading information. I try to double check facts, but as each post is written over a relatively short period of time, mistakes are bound to happen, but I try to make corrections as necessary.

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  3. Absolutely fascinating!

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    1. It is an interesting story, isn't it? A well-done TV mini-series could be an eyeful.

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  4. Thank you for this most interesting post about Point Breeze. I have been curious to learn more about this house and its collections for some time now, and you have filled in many of the blanks for me. Thank you!

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    1. Reggie, I was happy to use this opportunity to do a little more research myself. I had seen old photos of an Italianate house labelled Point Breeze, but it just didn't fit stylistically with Bonaparte. When I learned the British consul had replaced the second house, it made sense. To avoid further confusion, I did not show the later house which may still be standing on the estate.

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  5. I "ditto" Lindaraxa's comment. The first picture of the house suggests a rather handsome building in the Regency style, (although they probably referred to it as Empire).

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    1. Yes, there are very few true Regency houses in the U.S. I can only think of the glorious works by William Jay in Savannah, Georgia, and Hyde Hall at Cooperstown, New York.

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  6. This was such a wonderful post! Sorry I'm not usually a big commenter on these things but I had to say how much I enjoyed this one. Recently found your blog thanks to our mutual love of Maison Jansen (finally just broke down and bought the book very excited for it to arrive). Point Breeze has fascinated me since I was a kid and your absolutely right that not many people seem to know about it at all. When I was in high school I remember hearing the stories about an intact subterranean escape tunnel that once ran from the house to a boat waiting on the river if he ever had to make a great escape. Never did get around to looking for it myself thanks again for reminding me of this great story!

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    1. I came across old photos of these tunnel openings which apparently later became a tourist attraction of sorts. Some sources said they were part of the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves, but I cannot see the Bonaparte connection. Of course there was a previous owner who might have had some use, but Bonaparte was well thought of and apparently enjoyed his freedom and acceptance in the U.S. I have seen similar but even larger tunnels (and played in them as a child) that were built for rainwater drainage.

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    2. I've always questioned the validity of these urban legends but your drainage suggestions seem a most plausible explanation. On the aside Jansen tome has arrived and is indeed magnificent thank you again for the recommendation.

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  7. I had never heard this story. It sounds like the plot for a "magic realism" novel.

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    1. Cindy, it would make a great subject for a film as well, I think.

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  8. A most interesting post! I was not aware of Bonaparte's estate either. I've been doing a bit of reading on Betsy Bonaparte, wife of Jerome Bonaparte, after learning of her in Anne Sebba's "That Woman".

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    1. The subject of the Bonaparte wives would make a great film as well.

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  9. Completely fascinating!

    Coming from California (3rd generation!!)

    I had NO IDEA!

    Penelope

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  10. So! Is the tunnel still there! If so, I want to come back East and see it! I want to follow it!

    I think it is still there! Has anyone found th entrance??

    Of course it is there! No one could "make that up"!

    Yikes!

    Let's go see it!!

    What fun!!!!

    Penelope

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  11. Penelope, it is an interesting story, isn't it? And it's not one that is widely known. Apparently the tunnel can still be seen in parts; it has collapsed in sections, however.

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    1. The large Bonapart mansion was replaced by a stucco mansion that I believe began as a stable building.I guess that someone like Delano and Aldrich handeled the new design for John Hammond and family who embelished both the house and grounds with fine antique English paneling, firplaces, a grand round, classical stair hall,inlaid floors,
      a huge Georgian drawing room, an elegant swimming pool with a lacy wrought iron tea house. If that wasn't enough, they also built a facinating excentric grotto , cave and tunnelcomplex on the grounds that sat behind a huge naturalistic pool.I believe it was used also as a lush setting for a rock garden with many rare plants. The house was taken over by a seminary, but later sadly burned to the ground.The grounds are still lovely and the elements still survive.

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