Eugene Delacroix Congratulates the Government of Napoleon III on Making Paris the “Marvel of our times”

Napoleon III, nephew of Napoleon I, was the first president of the French Second Republic and Emperor of the Second French Empire. He is best known today for his magnificent reconstruction of Paris.  He created many of the grand boulevards and squares of central Paris, established the Bois de Boulogne, Bois de Vincennes and other famous Paris parks, and built the Palais Garnier for the Paris Opera.

The man he chose to create this vision and direct this effort was Georges-Eugène Haussmann, his prefect of the Seine from 1853–1870.  In this office Haussmann set the precedent for urban planning in the 20th century, altering the look and feel of Paris and changing its ancient character into the modern city we see today. His approach spread from city to city and many cities have attempted to mimic the Parisian look created by the Prefect.  

Haussmann cut wide, straight, tree-lined avenues through the chaotic mass of small streets of which Paris was then composed, connecting the train terminals and making rapid and easy movement across the city possible for the first time. Haussmann also created new systems of water supply and drainage. He opened up parks and increased the number of streetlights and sidewalks, giving rise to the kiosks and sidewalk cafes that enliven Parisian street life. He also painted for the Emperor’s apartments and the Salon de la Paix. The work began in 1854 and continued until 1878, with most work being done in the earlier years. So in the 1860s, Paris was under construction but already Haussman’s vision was manifest.

Eugene Delacroix was the great French artist and leader of the Romantic school who profoundly influenced the impressionists.  Paul Cézanne once said, "We are all in Delacroix."  Delacroix’s did much to advance the primacy of French art and helped establish the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts in 1862.  In the early 1860s, Delacroix was at the peak of his appreciation and not far from his death.  He had been accepted by the grand societies of French artists, and had seen Paris transformed from ancient hub to modern capital by Napoleon III and his Prefect.  It was at this moment that Haussman sent Delacroix an engraving of the city transformed, on behalf of both himself and the Emperor, and Delacroix responded with this letter, encapsulating the beauty and vision of the evolution of Paris that had made it into the subject of global admiration.

Autograph letter signed, May 18, 1861, to Monsieur le Prefet (Haussman), likely to be seen by Napoleon III.  “I have received the beautiful engraving you have honored me in sending, showing the view of Paris.  I hasten to express my appreciation and trust you know much I value this new favor from the city and the person who has made of Paris the marvel of our times.”