Exceptional portrait box featuring Louis XIV and Maria There - Lot 61

Lot n° 61
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Exceptional portrait box featuring Louis XIV and Maria There - Lot 61
Exceptional portrait box featuring Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Austria. Portraits enamelled by Jean I Petitot on gold, diamonds mounted on silver. About 1660 - 1680. H. H: 50 mm. Width : 71 mm. Gross weight : 47 g. This double enamelled portrait representing Louis XIV and his first wife Marie-Thérèse of Austria is one of the many diplomatic presents used by the Sun King to secure the allegiance of the powerful. Called a portrait box, this type of object derives from the "gold boxes used to hold a portrait", precious cases protecting the fragile paintings on vellum intended to show the face of their sponsors. Under Louis XIV, the containers gradually disappeared in favor of their contents, the portraits now enameled and displayed in a sumptuous surround of diamonds taken from the famous Golconde mines. Our "box" presents two oval miniatures enamelled on gold, set in a slightly closed corner, each surrounded by 14 large diamonds. The whole is topped by a crown of diamonds, all set on silver. The reverse side is composed of two oval medallions, also enamelled on gold, with a turquoise blue background called "dying blue", one with the figure of King Louis XIV, the second with that of Maria Theresa of Austria. These medallions are set in enameled borders of black and pink foliage, while the reverse of the crown is set with an enameled field that repeats the decoration of the obverse, all in a style that will be taken up by the silversmith Thomas Lejuge in his collection of models of 1676, itself inspired by the productions of Jean Pittan and Laurent Le Tessier de Montarsy, who provided many portrait boxes. Of the 121 diamonds making up this piece, one of which is missing today, all 28 diamonds surrounding the portraits are rose-cut with six main triangular facets (except one table-cut). This border is punctuated by smaller diamonds in a closed setting. Four diamonds are cut "in teardrop", pear cut, three of which are placed on the crown and one in the middle. The technique of realization of our "box" is quite similar to the one kept in the Louvre Museum. We find the same cut of the diamonds, the same setting, the same way of incorporating the medallions in their enamelled frame, and the same decoration of the crown in enamel on the reverse. Louis XIV and his wife Marie Thérèse are represented as young people. The two enamel portraits are attributable to Jean Petitot l'Ancien, a famous miniaturist whom Dezallier d'Argenville described, a century later, as the "Raphael of enamel painting. The King is shown wearing armor, draped in a leontée and the ribbon of the Order of the Holy Spirit. An identical enamel portrait, given to Jean Petitot l'Ancien, is preserved in the Musée National de la Renaissance in Écouen (inv. E. Cl. 20864) The portrait of the Queen is inspired by the portrait made by Charles Beaubrun, painted at the time of the marriage of Louis XIV and his wife, a portrait notably taken up in engraving by Nicolas Pitau (cf. below) and which inspired other enamel portraits of the Queen by Jean I Petitot, one of which is very similar to ours and is preserved in the Louvre (inv 35678). A double portrait for a specific occasion This double portrait presentation is unusual in relation to other portrait boxes preserved, but not entirely unprecedented. For example, the Victoria & Albert Museum has a watch case with portraits of Louis XIII and his faithful Cardinal Richelieu. This unique enamelled representation of the royal couple, however, raises questions about its purpose and consequently the identity of its recipient. The study of available accounting and diplomatic archives concerning royal gifts allows us to suggest three hypotheses: - A present made to celebrate the marriage of the king and Maria Theresa - A present offered by the queen herself. - A gift in gratitude for the condolences offered at the time of the queen's death. TO READ THE REST OF THE NOTICE, GO TO THE FOLLOWING LINK: https://cdn.drouot.com/d/catalogue?path=101/121384/Venteavril2022.pdf Condition Report Exceptional condition of the mounting and enamel of the enameled portrait of Louis XIV, veil on the upper right part of the portrait of Maria Theresa of Austria due to a later alteration. Small chips to the enamel on the reverse and possible slight resumption to the numbers. Missing a small diamond rose in the lower center.
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