
The Sisters Zénaïde and Charlotte Bonaparte, Jacques-Louis David (1821)
Oil on canvas
Image courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Museum’s Open Content Program
They settled at Point Breeze, a 1,000-acre estate in Bordentown located on the Delaware River. Prior to her exile, Bonaparte held the titles of Princess of France and Infanta of Spain. Unlike most American girls her age, Bonaparte was educated by private tutors and artists. During her time in the United States, she sketched and painted early 19th century New Jersey scenes and landscapes.
In 1822, one of Bonaparte’s drawings was on display at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The Academy exhibited ten of her drawings the following spring; the collection included landscapes, portraits, and flower studies