A watercolour and bodycolour drawing of the view towards Paris from Saint-Cloud. On the left, walking next to the parterre, are Prince Albert and Napoleon III. The Empress Eugénie is sitting on the terrace. In the distance, the Arc de Triomphe is visible on the horizon. Signed lower right: Adolphe Dallemagne.

In August 1855 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert spent ten days in Paris, on the invitation of Napoleon III and his wife Eugénie. The historic state visit was intended to celebrate the military alliance between Britain and France in the Crimean War, and followed a visit by the imperial couple to Windsor in April that year. The party stayed at the château of Saint-Cloud, to the west of Paris, which was later destroyed in the Franco-Prussian War. The view towards Paris was much admired by the Queen, who wrote in her journal 'the Arc de Triomphe rising so majestically & beautifully, in the distance had a marvellous effect' (20 August 1855). She drew the same view in her sketchbook (RCIN 980029.cv).