SOLD 19c. French Signed Miniature Portrait Painted on Ivory Gilt Bronze Frame Duchesse de Parme

Antiques : Miniature Portraits & Portrait Boxes

 

Antique 19th century hand painted miniature portrait on ivory of Madame Louise-Elisabeth of France, Infante d'Espagne, Duchess de Parme. She is wearing a beautiful dress of soft blue and a large brown hat with gray plumes and blue lace. The portrait is signed: Joe and is under glass. A five pointed crown sits on the very top of the frame above a bouquet of laurel leaves tied with ribbons. A floral garland drape held up with a French ribbon bow in the center sits just above the portrait. The portrait is surrounded by delicate embroidered silk fabric, both on the front and backing, but the silk has started to deteriorated and is stained. The frame has an easel backing and a ring hoop for hanging. The easel is somewhat bent, but still sits nicely on the table. The ivory portrait measures 3 1/8" in length and 2 3/8" in width. The gilt bronze frame measures 6" in height and 4 1/8" in width.

The Duchess of Parma (or Parme) was Madame Louise Elisabeth(1727-1759), Princess of France and eldest daughter of King Louis XV, (Anne Henriette was her twin sister). She was married to Duke Philip of Parma. She died at the age of thirty-two of the smallpox, years before Adelaide Labille-Guiard was commissioned by King Louis XVI's aunts to do a portrait of her. A shadow behind Louise Elisabeth in the original portrait was said to have been intended as a discreet poetic symbol of death.

Item ID: MP-150