The French Lady

Elisa Bonaparte as a trendsetter showed magnificence and luxury.
She profoundly transformed Lucca and at the same time she preserved its role and its standing. The court was modelled and regulated on that of Paris, with officers of honour, chamberlains, ladies, chaplains, alms-givers, squires, pages. She introduced lavish feasts and ceremonies to celebrate birthdays and holidays, setting the old and new aristocracy against each other in a competition to impress.