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Lot 37

24 May 2006, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £2,400 inc. premium

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French School (17th Century,

A Noblewoman, probably Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587), wearing black dress, cut square at the breast, the sleeves decorated with white bows and jewels, the bodice decorated with further jewels and a cross, starched white ruff collar, a pink-lined cap over her auburn hair, pearls at her neck and her waistband, gold border.
Watercolour on vellum stuck to card, gilt-metal frame, the reverse with ivory panel inlaid with tortoiseshell and silver piqué work.
Oval, 98mm (3 7/8in) high

Footnotes

Although largely conforming in technique to the portrait miniatures of the 16th century, the large format and stylised handling suggest a later date for the present lot. Probably painted as commemorative portrait, images of Mary continued to be popular well after her execution. Her iconography is vast and confusing, with many posthumous portraits produced after the accession of her son, James I, in 1603. In this particular portrait, the Catholic imagery is strong, with the over-sized cross evident at her breast.
The white cap is typical of the style worn by Mary in many contemporary portraits, the rest of her dress dating to the late 1570s/ early 1580s. The pose suggests that the artist of this most unusual miniature was influenced by the work of François Clouet (c.1520-1572). It has not been possible to find a direct source for the present lot, but it also borrows elements from Hilliard's portrait of Mary now in the Royal Collection and Victoria and Albert Museum.

Additional information