Exceptional exhibition "The only man in the family" at the Chapelle expiatoire in Paris

The Centre des monuments nationaux invites you to explore the fascinating story of the Duchess and the Duke of Angoulême through the exhibition"The Only Man in the Family", which runs from April 22 to September 17, 2023 at the Chapelle expiatoire in Paris. Thanks to exceptional loans from the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in Bordeaux, the Museum of Fine Arts in Chartres and private collections, visitors will be able to delve into the life of this royal yet little-known couple.

The exhibition "The only man in the family" highlights the singular life of the last couple of dolphins in France, where the wife overshadows the husband. Their history is marked by the revolutionary period and the political upheavals that followed. The Duchess of Angouleme, also known as "Madame Royale", is the only descendant of Louis XVI to have survived the Revolution. She took on the role of queen when necessary and was even referred to as the "only man in the family" by Napoleon Bonaparte. Her husband, the Duke of Angouleme, the last dauphin of France, renounced the throne when his father abdicated in 1830.

The exhibition, curated by Matthieu Mensch, doctor of history, retraces the significant stages in the life of this princely couple . Among the works on display, Barthélémy Garnier's oil on canvas, "The Interview of the Duke and Duchess of Angouleme", on loan from the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Chartres, occupies a special place.

This painting represents the reunion of the couple in Chartres after the Duke's victorious expedition to Spain to help Ferdinand VII restore the absolute monarchy. Other works from the Jeanvrot collection, dedicated to the last Bourbons, are also presented, as well as unpublished loans from private individuals, notably a portrait of the Duchess of Angouleme by Louise Bouteiller, never presented to the public since 1819.

The Chapelle expiatoire, the site of the exhibition, is closely linked to the Duchess of Angouleme. On her return from exile in 1814, she went to the Madeleine cemetery where her parents were buried and participated in the construction of the Chapelle expiatoire in memory of her parents. She worked directly with thearchitect Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine on thedesign of the building, which was finally completed in 1826. This building is a remarkable example of French neo-classical architecture . The chapel is now a place of meditation and remembrance for visitors and ultimately the ideal place to rediscover the history of the couple and of the duchess herself.

The exhibition "The only man in the family" also offers a rich program of events. Several conferences are planned, animated by historians and specialists of the ducal couple of Angoulême. Guided tours will allow visitors to understand the historical context and the political issues that marked their lives.

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In parallel, a catalog of the exhibition is published, including essays by renowned researchers and historians, as well as reproductions of the works on display. This catalog is a reference work for history buffs and art lovers.

Finally, the exhibition is also an opportunity for everyone to (re)discover the Chapelle expiatoire, a little-known monument of Parisian heritage. This architectural masterpiece, built in memory of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, is a place full of history and emotions.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to discover the fascinating history of the Duchess and the Duke of Angouleme in the heart of a most amazing historical site.