2-982-384 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Trophy erected by the English Residents at Dinan in Honour of the Visit of the Emperor and Empress of the French, 1858. 'Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and Empress passed through Dinan [in northern France]...in their tour through Bretagne...and the English residing there, in number about 300...raised an international trophy. It was placed in an open piece of ground in the middle of the town...The height of the erection was forty-five feet; the lion, unicorn, and eagle four feet each; the shields six feet. The whole pillar was of wood, covered with sand and shingle in imitation of stone; the animals and bird, coloured after nature, being of plaster of Paris. The shields were beautifully painted with the arms of England and France by an eminent amateur artist. At the top of the former is "God Save the Queen!" of the latter, "Vive l'Empereur!" The flags of the two nations on each side. The round shield had the names, "Napoleon, Victoria, Eugenie, Albert" around it, and in the centre the motto, "Pace et Concordia," the whole being surrounded by a wreath made of golden laurel-leaves'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.