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Henriette;
Or, The Mystery of the Golden Cross.

 
[Info, sept 2019: New sources about Adélaide / Henriette in a book by Dr. Peter Becher, Henriette - Casanovas große Liebe. - It should be noted that, according to André, the reunion in 1763 did not take place at Chateau Valabre, but, according to Becher, on the same post-road to Aix, a little further behind the Croix d'or, in another house of Henriette's family (Geographische Widersprüche (giacomo-casanova.de). - Becher's book in Bibliographie.]
     
    There is a new theory about the identification of Casanova's greatest love, Henriette of Aix-en-Provence by Dr. Louis Jean André, also living in Aix. He kindly provided me with his article (later published as: Sous le Masque d'Anne d'Arci: Adélaide de Gueidan. In: L'Intermédiaire des Casanivistes, nr. 13, Geneva 1996), documents and photos, so that I can show something about this great casanovistic mystery.  
    However, one should not forget the different identification by Helmut Watzlawick from the year 1989 and his oposition to André by his article "Audiatur et altera pars" published in the same issue of the above mentioned revue.

        Casanova gives us only one or two apparently clear references to the real Henriette, that is when he describes in his memoirs the situation of the "pretty house" where he met her in 1763: "a league beyond the Croix d'Or" (in the direction of Aix), and in 1769, when he drove from Aix to the same house, he says "one and a half leagues before the Croix d'Or". Why did he mention this pub on the post road between Marseille and Aix where the road to Bouc-Bel-Air (former Albertas) branched off? Did he tell the truth with one (4.5 km) or one and a half leagues? And even so, which of the many country houses, "bastides" or little chateaux in the region in question is the right one? The Croix d'Or always seemed to be the key to the solution of this mystery, and two published attempts (Samaran, Watzlawick) are based on that.
        However, another reference to Henriette could be of importance, that is she played the cello masterly (Casanova described Henriette as an excellent cellist, and he even presented her with such an instrument in Parma in 1749). Dr. André seeked for such a lady and in fact he found in the Musée Granet, Aix-en-Provence, an oil-painting (here a detail) by Nicolas de Largillière (Paris, 1656 - 1746), titled "Adélaide de Gueidan and her younger sister on the cembalo"(Photo: Musée Granet / Louis André).
        The putto below, placed in front of a cello, seems to say by the gesture of his hand: "... and Adélaide plays the cello!" In those times, says Dr. André, it was considered "indécent" to portray a lady with a cello between her legs.
      Adélaide de Gueidan was born in Aix on the 14th December 1725, and died on the 2nd December 1786 in La Palud (Alpes de Haute Provence), residence of her husband, the seigneur of that region Pierre Louis de Demandolx. Her cembalo playing sister Polyxène Julie was born on the 7th October 1728.
        Dr. André succeeded in showing that Adélaide's course of life was in no contrast to Casanova's informations. Moreover, different circumstances have the character of prooves: he found in her papers of marriage the signature of a relative, Mr d'Antoine Blacas, who recognized Henriette in Parma. Also, Dr. André quickly found the "pretty house":
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       In contrast to his words in the memoirs, Casanova must have known the real name of Henriette and were he could meet her: at the Chateau de Valabre of her father, Gaspar de Gueidan (President of Mortier at the Parliament of the Provence in Aix). To this end, he left the post road Aix - Marseille (today N 8) at la Croix d'Or, and exactly "une lieue" (4.5 km) from there, he reached the drive bordered by trees at the end of which stood the chateau. Here he simulated an accident to his carriage in order to be able to contact the inhabitants inclusively Henriette as though by chance.
       As known, Casanova then spent the night alone, while his girlfriend Marcolina layed in the arms of Adélaide resp. Henriette.

Cf.  1) André, Louis Jean: MEMOIRES DE L'ACADEMIE DES SCIENCES (...) Nouvelle série, Tome 6, Aspects du XVIIIe siècle Aixois (...). Aix-en-Provence 1999. ISBN 2-906280-07-0. Contents:  I. Un épisode provencal de la guerre de succession d'Autriche (...). II. Une Aixoise du XVIIIe siècle: Adélaide de Gueidan. III. Monsieur Farussi à Aix-en-Provence. IV. Sous le masque d'Anne d'Arci, Adélaide de Gueidan (...).
        2) André, Louis Jean: Casanova à Aix-en-Provence. In: Le Courrier d'Aix, 26.12.1998.
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Copyright photos by Dr. Louis André, Aix-en-Provence, 2000.
Copyright text by Pablo Günther, Hergensweiler, 2000 / 2019.

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