PROSPER MÉRIMÉE (1803-1870) - Lot 19

PROSPER MÉRIMÉE (1803-1870) The Siamese ambassador Phra-Ya Sisiphar presenting a letter to H.M. the French Emperor in the gallery of Henri II at Fontainebleau. Pen and brown ink. Signed lower left and titled at bottom. 19.5 x 25.5 cm. Prosper Mérimée was present at the Château de Fontainebleau for the Emperor Napoleon III's reception of the King of Siam's embassy. A letter from Mérimée to Fontainebleau, dated June 24, 1861, recounts the excitement of the court for this embassy: "Our great expectation at the moment is that of the Siamese ambassadors, who are coming on Thursday. It is said that they will appear on all fours, according to the custom of their country, crawling on their knees and elbows. Some add that they lick the parquet floor, which is sprinkled with candy sugar for this purpose" (Lettres de Prosper Mérimée Madame de Montijo, text presented and annotated by Claude Schopp, Paris Mercure de France1995, t. II, p. 233). Our drawing is a precious first-hand account of this encounter.