"I would be very happy if you came to the concert"
- Unpublished handwritten letter from Princess Isabel to the Count and Countess Costa de Beauregard.
- One page.
- In French.
- April 30, 1907, Boulogne-sur-Seine.
- 12.2 cm x 17 cm.
- Excellent condition of conservation.
- Unique piece.
French transcription
Le concert aura lieu Salle de l´Horticulteur, 84 rue de Grenelle. 30 April 1907, Boulogne-sur-Seine.
Cher Comte et Comtesse Costa de Beauregard.
J´organise pour le 24 mai le concert en faveur de ma chère (name unidentified). Vous seriez bien aimables de vouloir bien prendre les billets ci-inclus.
Si vous ne pouviez les garder je vous priores de me les renvoyer le plus tôt possible. Je serais bien heureuse que vous veniez au concert ou envoyiez quelqu´un à votre place. It's time to come!
Yours truly affectionately.
Isabelle Countess of Eu.
Perhaps the most beloved of Brazilian monarchs, Princess Isabel went down in history as the woman who put an end to the long and painful period of slavery, which still represents a deep scar in the construction of our society. Even so, few remember that, with the proclamation of the republic in 1889, Isabel, like the entire royal family, was exiled and forbidden to set foot on Brazilian soil. The expatriation was a complex period in the life of the princess who, in addition to losing the right to live in the country where she grew up, was also deprived of much of her assets. Even so, recently discovered documents show that Princess Isabel maintained an active social life during her exile in France.
The letter dated 1907, written by the princess herself, reveals that she was organizing a concert in Boulogne sur Mer. This is a precious insight into the daily life of the famous monarch, especially considering how little is known about the period, since, after her expulsion from Brazil, Isabel decided to live a discreet life.
Upon returning to Europe, the imperial family first landed in Portugal, where Isabella's mother, Teresa Cristina, died within a few weeks. Isabella settled for a time in southern Spain, but soon the entire royal family moved to a hotel in Cannes, France, after receiving a large loan from a Portuguese banker that allowed them to enjoy such a privilege. However, Isabella and her husband Gaston moved the following year to a private villa, which was more economical than staying in a hotel. They also stayed in a country house near Versailles before moving permanently to the Château d'Eu in Normandy, the former home of Gaston's grandfather, King Louis Philippe I of France.
During her exile in France, Isabel chose to live a quiet life, far from the spotlight, to the point that she never publicly supported the attempts to restore the monarchy that took place in Brazil. As a result of this reserved lifestyle, little is known about the princess's daily life during those years. That is why her letter organizing a concert is so important, as it gives us the opportunity to uncover the mysteries of Princess Isabel's daily life. What would it have felt like to receive an invitation to a concert from the princess?
Brazilian history is full of remarkable characters, and Princess Isabel is certainly one of the greatest protagonists in the more than 500 years since the arrival of the Portuguese. The abolition of slavery signed by Isabel is still celebrated today as one of the most important episodes in our history as a country.
Learning about the life of the woman responsible for changing the course of the nation, in a period still so neglected by historians, is an opportunity to get to know the woman behind the crown. Isabel, like all of us, faced setbacks but never stopped being active.
The Princess's letters are very rare, especially in perfect condition and as extensive as this one.
