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13
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Jean-Georges Baltz (1760-1831).
See original version (French)
13
-
Jean-Georges Baltz (1760-1831).
See original version (French)
Estimate €4,000 - €5,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Jean-Georges Baltz (1760-1831).
Virgin and Child, 1829, after Raphaël's Madonna d'Orléans.
Painting on Sèvres porcelain plate.
13 x 10.5 cm (unframed), 21.3 x 18.7 cm (framed)
Signed, on the back a label with the date 1828
This precious Virgin and Child was painted by Jean-Georges Baltz in 1828 after a composition by Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520).
Baltz excelled in this luxurious production during the Empire and Restoration periods. Charles Gabet, in his Dictionnaire des artistes de l'école française of 1831, points out that his works were highly prized by collectors of the time. This technique, which benefited from Alexandre Brongniart's innovations, required several firings, making the paint as inalterable as enamel. In a 1985 article, Anne Lajoix points out that the development of this technique was in response to a desire to conserve heritage against the wear and tear of time (Anne Lajoix, "peinture et porcelaine. Substituer à la toile une plaque en porcelaine", Revue de la céramique et du verre, n°21, mars-avril 1985, p.9).
Raphaël's original work belonged to the Englishman George Hilbert before passing into the hands of Ewing for Nieuwenhuys in 1829, and finally ending up at the Musée Condé. Baltz probably used Claude Duflos's 1729 engraving as a model, but he may also have seen the painting in its owner's home.
With great virtuosity, Baltz made a few variations to the original composition. He simplified the background, hid the Virgin's hair under a veil, altered certain colours and added a smile to the Child's original expression, thus offering a vision of the original religious work that was perhaps more suited to the enthusiasts of his time.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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