One of the most unbearable experiences for Elisabeth was, from her first day in Vienna onwards, being stared at by thousands of pairs of eyes and being treated as public property. She was just a unable and unwilling to accustom herself to the stiffness of court ceremonial, which she regarded as futile. She also took no pleasure whatsoever in superficial conversation and hollow clichés. All this led to an almost overwhelming abhorrence of all forms of public appearance. Wherever she could she avoided these occasions, either by a complete absence from Vienna or with a row of thin excuses.
She could not bear to take on any form of representational duties unless these were entirely unavoidable. And she showed her discomfort whenever she had to go ‘in full tackle’, as she referred to her appearances in formal attire, to be exposed to everybody’s scrutiny and at the focus of attention. For instance, at her sixteen year old daughter Gisela’s wedding. At the time Sisi was thirty-five years old and not particularly enthusiastic at the prospect of becoming a grandmother in the near future. She was only seldom to be seen at the 1873 World Exhibition in Vienna and, in the same year, appeared on only two days to participate in the 25th Jubilee of the Emperor’s reign. The magnificent convoy on the occasion of the Emperor and Empress’ Silver Wedding, which was organised by the famous painter Hans Makart, did not thrill her at all: ‘It’s already enough to have been married for twenty-five years without also having to celebrate the fact’.
The Main Gallery at Schonbrunn was lit by 1,00 candles at gala dinners, the table was 30 metres long.
Even family diners, held on magnificently laid banqueting tables in the palace.
The Emperor and Empress’ Silver Wedding in 1879. Elisabeth did not feel like celebrating twenty-five years of a marriage which had been the source of such grief to her.
One of the Empress’ favourite pastimes was to get away from the Court with all its formality and protocol and do normal things in anonymity, like going on a shopping spree.
She often enjoyed popping into the patisseries when she was out on one of these trips. Despite her diet, she had phases of not being able to resist sweets and often ate astonishing quantities in a single sitting. She was particularly fond of candies violets. These are produced according to an old, traditional process and sold at the formed K.u.K. purveyors to the Court, Gerstner.
|
