This week, let’s dive into the Academy’s collections, with Louis Dupré and Sébastien Norblin’s painting from 1835 capturing the moment when “Châteaubriand receives Grand Duchess Hélène of Russia in the gardens of Villa Medici on April 29th with 1829 "

In the center of the Square, the Duchess is welcomed by Châteaubriand, then Ambassador of France to the Holy See, and Academy Director Horace Vernet. Upper left, on the Terrace of the Forest, you can see a tent that should have repaired the guests. However, some sources report that on the morning of April 29, 1829 a strong wind blew over Rome, blowing out the curtain and pushing guests into the Grand Hall of the Villa. Painters would have so adorned the scene and sky of Rome that day...

👀 Can you spot the evolution of the building since the 19th century? The more attentive eyes will notice that the Bronze Mercury on the balcony of the Lodge has disappeared and that the buildings in the wing have undergone several modifications...