Gift from Napoleon - Honolulu, HI
Posted by: 
dkestrel
N 21° 18.399 W 157° 51.540
4Q E 618344 N 2356514
Iolani Palace contains an oil portrait of Napoleon III, a gift to Hawaii from that sovereign.
Waymark Code: WMK0M3
Location: Hawaii, United States
Date Posted: 01/25/2014
Views: 11
Halfway around the world from their homes in Europe, the Captain and officers of the French naval vessel Kerguelen breakfasted one April morning with the King of the Sandwich Islands. It was 1884, Iolani Palace in Honolulu was almost new, and King Kalakaua was entertaining in the lavish style for which he was becoming famous. For the French, the Hawaiian Palace certainly was different from their ship's wardroom or even the dining rooms of Paris and Marseilles, but the visitors found a few familiar objects about them as they enjoyed the hospitality of the Hawaiian King.
The table was set with French china from Haviland of Limoges and with French silver. On the wall of the state dining room hung a large portrait of their former Emperor, Napoleon III. That portrait was one of many oil paintings which adorned Iolani Palaces during the days of the Hawaiian monarchy, presents from the rulers of Europe to the Kings of the Sandwich Islands.
If French leaders are superstitious they might well avoid sending their portraits to Hawaii, for fear of dire consequences to themselves. As the portrait of Louis Philippe arrived in Honolulu only a week before his abdication, so the portrait of Napoleon III was presented to Kamehameha V on December 16, 1870, more than three months after the surrender of the French army at Sedan and the fall of the Empire, and while the Emperor was still in a German prison.
The painting had been sent out from France on June 20, 1868, but it was lost enroute to Hawaii. The French Commissioner, M. Ballieu, was convinced that it had been sent and as months and years went by he questioned his colleagues in the Pacific about the missing portrait. Finally, the painting was located in Tahiti, where it was being stored, as there were no directions as to its disposition on the box.
It was promptly put on board an American ship, the Eurania, which arrived in Honolulu on October 24, 1870, and on December 16th it was presented to Kamehameha in a ceremony at Iolani Palace which the Hawaiian Gazette described as being ".. . without formality, and the occasion was made one of social enjoyment by those in attendance."
The portrait is 38" X 53" and the signature of the artist is not visible.
How identified / Comment identifie: Guided Tour / Tour Guidé
Name of book, tour, or museum - Preciser le nom si livre, tour, ou musee: Iolani Palace
Visiting Days or Hours / Heures d'ouverture:
Monday-Saturday: 9am-4pm
If "other" specify / preciser si "autre": Not listed
Relevant Website / Site web pertinent: Not listed
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