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Sophie was the eldest daughter of Baron Pichon
Longueville and at his death in 1855 she, like
her brothers and sisters, received a fifth share
of their father’s vineyard which had been
founded at the end of the 17th Century.
Several years later she bequeathed it to her sister, Virginie. Gabrielle, the third daughter of the Baron, did likewise and Virginie was thus able to unite under her name three fifths of the family vineyard which afterwards became Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.
Sophie was extremely accomplished. She wrote poetry. Sixteen of her poems were published in memory of her mother in an anthology entitled “Fugitive Poems”. She was also a talented painter. Between 1811 and 1814 she was a member of the workshop of Gérard, the celebrated official painter of Napoleon, where like many young women of the day, she executed some of the numerous copies that were ordered of his works. She also painted for herself and, even today, fourteen of her paintings, most of which are signed by her hand, decorate the walls of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.
This collection is made up of several portraits including one of her brother in law, Henri de Lalande, and of a number of religiously inspired scenes and characters including “Christ on the Cross” (which can be seen in the church at Pauillac) and portraits of St. James and St. Peter. One finds also a number of landscapes painted during her travels in Switzerland and the Alps.
Although it is probable that she never intervened in the business of running the property, Sophie did participate in the construction of the Château and contributed by her presence, her radiance and her talent in providing this domain with its soul, so feminine and so exceptional.
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