Mystery Marchesa

Observe this portrait by the famous Belgian painter Sir Antony Van Dyck. It is of the Marchesa Elena Grimaldi, wife of Marchese Nicola Cattaneo. I feel a little sorry for the woman because this painting must be more famous than she is as every time I've tried to look up info on-line about Elena Grimaldi all I get is details about Van Dyck and this famous portrait. What information I was able to find was not in a language I spoke and on-line translators usually leave me more confused than when I started. I know the Cattaneo family were very big in the Republic of Genoa and at one time were the major financial backers for the Hapsburg war effort in Holland and Belgium. In any event, it would make perfect sense for a Grimaldi and a Cattaneo to be married but I have no more information than that. If anyone knows more, or where some details might be found, please leave a comment and let me know.

Prince Albert Back in the States

On Saturday HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco visited Naples, Florida where the five time princely Olympian had the honor to open the "Art of The Olympians" museum for which he was the guest of honor. This was not an exceptionally large event, but as an Olympian, an IOC member and the little distinction of being a sovereign monarch and son of an American film icon, Prince Albert was pleased to attend and open the new museum. Most of the assembled guests consisted of local government officials, politicians, the society and sports crowd and a number of past Olympians. It all got underway with breakfast at a private club in Port Royal, Florida, attended by about a hundred people, to whom the Prince addressed a speech.

“This event has very special meaning to me,” His Serene Highness. “It exemplifies the Olympic values, which offer lessons in fair play, patience, respect and dedication. These are traits learned through experiences, especially through creative pursuits.” Which are all things he certainly knows something about. Albert also spoke about how school programs, art exhibitions and so on all reflect the pursuit of excellence embodied in the Olympic games. He also congratulated the organizers of the event and those who established the new museum.

“Everyone is most proud of your achievement. It’s amazing what Olympians can do when they put their hearts to the task.”

One of those on hand was artist Ellen West who was “thrilled” to be a part of the special day. “I think it was marvellous,” she said of attending the breakfast. “I am so thrilled I got to meet a little piece of Grace Kelly. It brings back memories of those days.” Which goes to show once again that, for many people, despite being a Sovereign Prince, reigning monarch of one of the most successful countries of the world and head of the oldest reigning family in Europe, for many Prince Albert will always be most famous simply as the son of Princess Grace.

Later in the day Prince Albert attended a special art fund raiser called "Painting with Prince" in which he got into the spirit of the occasion, putting on shorts and a t-shirt to throw a discus at a painting -giving that extra touch. It was a tux Saturday night of course for the formal opening of the museum and the reception that followed.

Monegasque Sculptor Francois-Joseph Bosio

One of the most famous names to ever come out of Monaco, and one of the most famous names in the world of art in general, was the Monegasque sculptor Joseph-Francois Bosio. He was born on March 19, 1769 in Monaco where a small square in Monaco-Ville honors him. His family roots went back to the island of Corsica and they owned a large estate called Pieve dei Bosio which was elevated to a county. It was in the late XVIth Century that the family settled in the Principality of Monaco. He showed early artistic promise and from the age of 16 was refining his skills as a sculptor. From a heap of iron he produced a striking figure of Christ which attracted the attention of HSH Prince Honore III. Seeing potential in the young man the Sovereign Prince gave him a scholarship to attend school in Paris under the famous master sculptor Pajou.

Bosio served in the French army during the Revolution, becoming a lieutenant, but left the army and wandered northern Italy working on his art, mostly doing religious pieces for chapels and convents. He spent time in Florence, later worked in Rome and Naples and returned to Paris when Napoleon crowned himself Emperor. While in Italy he had befriended the sculptor Bartolini who he met again in Paris and arranged his meeting with the director of the Imperial Museums, Denon, who appreciated his talent and commissioned work from him. His talent was seen and appreciated and Empress Josephine posed for a bust for him which so impressed the Emperor Napoleon that he placed the bust in his private quarters and named the humble artist from Monaco the official favored sculptor of the French Empire.

The fame of Bosio grew to such an extent that the fall of the empire and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy had no effect on him. He was appointed to the Academie des Beaux Arts and was retained as first sculptor by King Louis XVIII. In 1817 he was, by royal decree, made a tutor at the royal school of fine arts. King Charles X confirmed the status of Bosio bestowed by his elder brother and even elevated him to the status of a baron on May 11, 1828. During his career Bosio produced many famous pieces and busts of all the monarchs he served. His statue of a young King Henri IV is displayed at the Louvre, his equestrian statue of the famous King Louis XIV stands in the Place des Victoires but it is his many pieces from classical Greco-Roman mythology that are probably most famous.

Bosio died on July 29, 1845. A month later Raoul Rochette, permanent secretary of the Academy of Fine Arts, at a memorial at his tomb, stated of Bosio that, “He was born in a State, almost imperceptible on the political map of Europe, but which yet will one day be celebrated as the birth-place of a great artist”. Today Monaco is famous for much more but in the arena of fine art the name of the Monegasque sculptor Bosio will be remembered and honored forever.

MM Video: Princes of Monaco in Art