Antonio Franconi
Géricault Life
Documents… Francony (details) Archives Nationales (France) D/XXXVIII/3. Image courtesy of the Archives Nationales (France).
Théodore Géricault spent as much time as he could attending performances and assisting Franconi grooms. Théodore dreamed of becoming an accomplished equestrian from an early age; and his family spared no expense on his education. Antonio Franconi and his family advertised and appeared in the press. View a few samples below.
Franconi in the Press
Gazette nationale ou le Moniteur Universel – 1791 April 18
“…Concerts Amphithéatre de M. Astley, fauxb. du Temple. Great equitation exercises today at 6 o’ clock precisely, executed by Mr. Franconi, horseman and citizen of Lyon, his children, and his students, and by horses trained in a manner to elicit the greatest astonishment among connoisseurs of the art of equitation. Place prices: 3 livres., 36 sous., et 12 sous…”
Gazette nationale ou le Moniteur Universal – 1794 July 28 – 10 Thermidor, l’an 2 de la République Française une et indivisble.
“…Amphithéatre d’Astley, fauxbourg du Temple – Citizen Franconi today will present the Civic Festival. This Festival will be celebrated with all due pomp, and will conclude with the entrance of a Chariot representing national comity, illuminated and drawn by four richly-harnessed coursers, preceded by several exercises in equitation, emulation, dances upon horseback, and other very amusing acts. He gives lessons in equitation and dressage every morning to those of either sex…”
Le Republicain Français Sextidi 26 Thermidor, An VI (Saturday 13 August 1796.)
“…The festivities of 23 thermidor [August 10th] were even more brilliant than those which preceded them, and the influx of spectators was greater, if not at the Champ du Mars, at least at the Champs-Elyssée. However, not all that was promised took place; the raising of a balloon did not occur. Although the organization and placement of the spectators compound was better than last year, and permitted the public better access to the events, the foot races and the horse races did not produce the desired effect. This is perhaps because too few events were scheduled and because the times between each event were much too long. An inactive spectator whose body moves little becomes exhaused in repose, especially if one has little reason to move, and one is occupied searching for something to look upon and keep the mind satisfied and awake. The course de bagues [a traditional race in which riders used to carry a lance] was executed in a constrained space and was of little interest to a great many, as it was impossible to follow the movements of those participating; in addition, disorder reigned within the compound the moment the competition began, as everyone pressed forward to get close enough to see.
A great number of competitors participated in the foot races. The victors were the citizens d’Hervilly, Bernard, François Laurent, Deschamps, Vlllemereux, Cosme and Duc; the final winners were decided definitively in a final race among these individuals as the citizens Villemereux and Cosme.
Citizen Thurieux, mounted on a Norman horse named the Courser; and Citizen Francony the elder, who mounted a Norman horse named the General, won the prizes for the horse races.
It is said that the younger Francony, victor of the previous competition, was prevented from competing this time because of a severe fall he suffered while riding an extremely wild horse which he was training for this festival, and which he had purchased at great cost. The horse killed himself crashing into a barrier, and Francony was gravely injured…”
Franconi Family and Théodore Géricault
Théodore Géricault loved horses and loved riding, drawing, and painting horses. Antonio Franconi’s circus performed in Rouen, not far from the family home on the rue de l’Avalasse. By the time Théodore Géricault was living in Paris in 1796-7, the Franconi circus was a fixture in Paris life.
We will return to Francony/Franconi in subsequent issues. In our first discussion of Franconi and Géricault, I wish to point to several facts of interest. First, Franconi actively recruited students and that his students sometimes performed as part of the Franconi circus. Second, Franconi were actively involded in the horse races held on festival days at the Champ du Mars, not far from the Géricault family apartments on the rue de l’universite in Paris. At least two of Franconi’s sons competed in these races. Théodore Géricault and his family could visit the Franconi circus on the on the rue du Temple and watch the Franconis ride and compete in festival races against other citizens. The map below indicates the principal Gericault homes and the Champ du Mars and the Champs Elysées. In our next issue we will examine the Franconi circus on the rue de Temple in greater detail.
A: Champ du Mars; B: Belle Chasse, Robillard-De Poix-Géricault-Caruel apartments; C: Hotel Longueville, Robillard-Caruel apartments; D: Champs-Elysées. Map: 1790 Verniquet (detail).