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ALEXANDRE LANDRE - SEMUR-EN-AUXOIS

28 - Hyacinthe RIGAUD (1659–1743), after
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Estimate €10,000 - €15,000
Sale commission
Description
Hyacinthe RIGAUD (1659–1743), after Portrait of King Louis XIV in his coronation robes Large medallion decorated with polychrome enamels painted using the technique known as ‘brush-enamelling’, on a background of hammered, repoussé and polished metal, creating an effect of relief and perspective enhanced by foliage and gilded fleurs-de-lis. The sword, the Collar of the Holy Spirit, the crown and the royal sceptre are set with small cabochons of garnets and semi-precious stones. It is set within a very fine carved, moulded and gilded wooden frame, decorated with a frieze of rosettes and crowned by a large palmette with acanthus leaves. France. 19th century. Circa 1830. Frame: H 100 cm, W 74 cm Visible area: H 63.5 cm, W 51 cm (Minor damage and losses). Louis Philippe came to power in 1830 and promised to reconcile the French people. One of his main projects was the restoration of the Palace of Versailles and the creation of a national narrative. Our portrait illustrates the taste of that era for images associated with the reign of Louis XIV. Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659–1743) Universally acclaimed upon its official presentation at the court of Versailles in January 1702, the portrait of Louis XIV (1638–1715) in royal attire (Paris, Musée du Louvre, inv. no. 1492), and not in his coronation robes, as is sometimes described, single-handedly personifies the Grand Siècle and the absolute power of the Ancien Régime in the collective memory. It was a great honour for this Catalan painter, a subject of the Spanish Crown from birth, who was once again to receive the monarch’s highest distinction: to be in his presence at court and to paint him from life. The artist had left his hometown of Perpignan and settled in Paris after a brief stay in Lyon. His talent as a portraitist had earned him prestigious commissions in every city where he had lived; by the time he arrived in Paris, the European elite were turning to him to have their portraits painted. Among his sitters were Frederick IV of Denmark (1671–1730) and the Doge of Genoa, Gian Francesco II Brignole de Sale (1695–1760), as well as leading figures of the reign of Louis XIV, the Regent Philippe d’Orléans (1674–1723) and Louis XV (1710–1774), not to mention the important artists whose portraits adorned the portrait gallery, such as Desjardins (1637–1694), Le Brun (1619–1690) and Bourdon (1616–1671); a prestigious list that testifies to the prestige of Rigaud’s clientele. It was thanks to this popularity amongst the nobility and aristocracy that Louis XIV turned to Rigaud, from whom he had already commissioned a portrait of his grandson, Philippe d’Anjou (1683–1746), who had been called to the Spanish throne. Eclipsing all previous depictions of the sovereign, the portrait painted by our Catalan-born artist was by far the most widely reproduced. The model’s advanced age (73) is overshadowed by the magnificence of the composition. The old man, whose sturdy legs anchor him firmly in the painting, wears a cloak adorned with fleurs-de-lis and stands above a still life comprising the royal insignia, age-old symbols of power. Charlemagne’s sword, known as ‘Joyeuse’ (Paris, Louvre Museum), is visible beneath his cloak; the sceptre of his grandfather Henry IV (1553–1589) serves as his walking stick, and the Hand of Justice and the royal crown rest on a thick velvet cushion to the left of the composition. The Order of the Holy Spirit, established during the reign of Henry III (1551–1589) – the most prestigious order of the Ancien Régime – is held in place by a heavy chain around the monarch’s lace collar. The vertical composition serves as a stage for the king, who had by then been ruling France alone for over a decade. Bibliography: - Portraits en majesté. François de Troy, Nicolas de Largillierre, Hyacinthe Rigaud. Dominique Brême, Director of the Musée du Domaine départemental de Sceaux – Ariane James-Sarazin, Chief Curator of Heritage. Expert: Stéphane PEPE – Expert: PEPE Stephane
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About the sale Collection of the Château de Villebourgeon & others
Auction location
Auction time 10/04/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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