Fire and Water on the Seine: The Venetian Ambassador's Fireworks Party (1649)

Paris in 1649 was a much-troubled city. To top the upheaval of the first Parliamentary Fronde, and the court’s absence, the weather was terrible. It rained to such an extent that the streets began to flood, the waters rising to become canals, tradesmen travelled by boat and according to Françoise de Motteville, Anne of Austria’s companion, in late January ‘Paris était devenu semblable
à la ville de Venise. La Seine le baignait entièrement’ [Paris had become like the city of Venice. The Seine drenched it entirely] . This deluge even seemed to dampen enthusiasm for the fireworks offered by the city to the king. Events such as the annual feux de la Saint-Jean on the night of 23 to 24 June normally symbolised the link between these two important poles of power in Paris, but this bonfire display did not take place in 1649, perhaps because the king, who habitually lit the fire,
was absent in the north of France, and the city feared encouraging crowds at a time of political upheaval . The partnership between the city provosts and the monarchy was reignited in the feux de joye to mark the return of Louis XIV to the city (and his birthday) in September, signifying the king’s rule in concordance with Paris, unifying the flame of majesty and the Seine of commerce, whose waters reflected the fire above . The success of this occasion was conveyed in the words of
the resident Venetian ambassadeur ordinaire, Michele Morosini (ambassador from 1648-52), for ‘la notte tutta si solenizzò con fochi e luminarii, e così fu per tre sere’ [The entire night was solemnised with flames and illuminations, and thus it was for three evenings] .
This chapter will explore an unusual, if not unique use of fireworks over the Seine, commissioned by the Venetian ambassador himself, rather than a civic provost or royal official.