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Accounts for the designing and making of Napoleon's Coronation shoes
1804
Jean-Baptiste Isabey, who designed the coronation robes, was a friend of both Napoleon and Joséphine. In 1805 Isabey
became Dessinateur du Cabinet et des Cérémonies, Directeur des Décorations de l'Opéra and Conservateur adjoint du
Musée Impérial, and was as such responsible for organising all of their intimate and official parties at the Tuileries,
Saint-Cloud and at Malmaison. He may, however, be best known for his outstanding miniatures, while he also professed in
lithographies, oil painting and as a portrait painter. It was Vacher who supplied the fabric, Chevallier who tailored the
robes and Picot who embroidered the patterns of Napoleon's robes. This document is the account for the changes
involved in making the shoes for Napoleon's coronation and is signed at the bottom by Isabey.
The below translation was provided by Dominique Contant.
Account of the shoes made and provided for His Majesty the Emperor, by Jacques his regular shoemaker during the
course of the year 12 and year 13, by order of Mr Isabey, designer to the Imperial Cabinet.
Year 12
15 Fructidor
Provided a pair of shoes in white glove leather, embroidered in gold, to serve as a model for the crowning shoes, with
gold embroidery following the drawings of the model, with golden braid in solid gold on golden fabric, the so-called shoes
lined with white silk and stitched with the best workmanship and precision conform to the drawing, bearing holes and
small points (pattern sheet) related to the workmanship and the furnishing
estimated ..... 250 F
Year 13
7 Vendémiaire
A pair of shoes for the Sacre (crowning) done in white velvet embroidered with matte gold with portions bearing designs
done with small stitches, the border with gold braid in solid gold and golden fabric, silk lining inside, and packaged with
care, drawing well-executed, all valuables in regard to work and supplies
estimated......400 F
24 Brumaire
Provided a pair of dancing shoes in a goatskin, cords, lined in white silk and houillée (?) (Ouillée ?).... 24 F
Total .... Francs ..... 674 F
Adjusted the sum to 660 F
Six hundred and sixty francs
Isabey
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