Great banner Arthur. Thanks for the novel approach.
--Previous Message-- : Thank you, Beth1! : : I have made this banner (my first one!) on : the occasion of Saint Patrick's Day. As you : all know, Saint Patrick, a Cumbrian bishop, : evangelized Ireland, and used a shamrock to : explain the mystery of the Holy Trinity : (three divine persons who are one single : God) to the Irish pagan people. : : Eugénie de Montijo married Napoleon III, : recently proclaimed Emperor of the French, : in January 1853. Among the engagement gifts : presented to Eugénie by Napoléon III was : " a very beautiful brooch in the shape : of a shamrock, made of three beautiful : emeralds and of brilliants ", which is : very probably the brooch worn by Empress : Eugénie on this portrait by Edouard-Louis : Dubufe, dated 1853 (source: Bernard Morel, : Les Joyaux de la Couronne de France , 1988). : As one of the first jewels presented to her : by her husband, I guess Empress Eugénie had : probably a special affection for this jewel, : but unfortunately I have absolutely no : information about its current whereabouts. : : : : Empress Eugénie possibly wore her shamrock : brooch also on this famous portrait by : Winterhalter: : : : : and also on this portrait by : Pierre-Paul-Emmanuel de Pommayrac: : : : : The pearl necklace with pearl drops worn by : the Empress on the portraits by Dubufe and : by Pommayrac was probably the necklace made : for the Duchess of Angoulême (King Louis : XVI's daughter, and King Charles X's niece : and daughter-in-law) in 1819-1820 and part : of the Crown Jewels' Collection (and : unfortunately sold at auction by the : republican government in 1887 and never seen : since then): : : : : : Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all Irish : posters and readers of this board, and to : all friends of Ireland and Irish people! : : :
on March 17, 2015, 3:18 am, in reply to "