Bonhams 1793 : French School, circa 1775 A Noblechild, wearing red suit with ribbon bows at the ankles, gold buttons and white cuffs, white chemise with frilled lace collar and cuffs, cream shoes with ribbon bows, he holds the Order of St John of Jerulsalem on a black ribbon and stands before a marble relief, a black plumed hat sits on the floor at his right heel

A Noblechild, wearing red suit with ribbon bows at the ankles, gold buttons and white cuffs, white chemise with frilled lace collar and cuffs, cream shoes with ribbon bows, he holds the Order of St John of Jerulsalem on a black ribbon and stands before a marble relief, a black plumed hat sits on the floor at his right heel.
The reverse inscribed Figlio Luigi/ XVI/ Maria Antonia and ROMA, gold frame with glazed reverse.
Oval, 67mm (2 5/8in) high

Sold for £9,840 inc. premium

Footnotes

The present lot shows a child of around one year holding the ribbon and badge of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, making Louis Antoine d'Artois, Duc d'Angoulême (17751844) a possible identification given that he held the office of Grand Prior of France, Order of St. John of Jerusalem between 24 November 1776 and 30 June 1789. He was depicted as a child aged ten, wearing the Order by Joseph Boze in 1785. Boze's portrait is more formal, showing Louis bewigged, however his eye colour does appear lighter than that in the present lot, making a concrete identification impossible.

Category: Fine Art / Portrait Miniatures

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