Premium Osenat
106
-
A RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL PAIR OF BUSTs, probably depicting Hen…
See original version (French)
106
-
A RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL PAIR OF BUSTs, probably depicting Hen…
See original version (French)
Estimate €7,000 - €9,000
Voluntary lot
Description
A RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL PAIR OF BUSTs, probably depicting Henri-Jules de Bourbon-Condé (1643–1709) and Anne-Henriette of Bavaria (1648–1723)
Terracotta
Last quarter of the 17th century, Louis XIV period
H: 74 cm and H: 70 cm
L: 50 cm
Provenance:
Private collection
These two terracotta busts, created in the last quarter of the 17th century, are fully in keeping with the artistic output associated with the court of Louis XIV. They most likely depict Henri-Jules de Bourbon-Condé and his wife Anne-Henriette of Bavaria, prominent figures of the French aristocracy.
Their identification is based in particular on a comparison with painted portraits attributed to Pierre Mignard and Juste d’Egmont, held at the Palace of Versailles. The male bust, depicting a man with long, curly hair wearing the collar of the Order of the Holy Spirit, corresponds well with the known iconography of the Prince of Condé. The female bust, for its part, displays an elegance and refinement characteristic of court portraits, with a lavish neckline adorned with lace and fleur-de-lis motifs.
The rendering of the faces, the supple modelling of the flesh and the finesse of the details—particularly in the drapery and lace—bring these works close to the style of French sculpture during the reign of the Sun King. The choice of terracotta, a relatively rare material for princely portraits, suggests that these may be preparatory models intended to be cast in marble.
In this context, an attribution to the circle of Antoine Coysevox seems plausible. A leading court sculptor, Coysevox and his workshop produced numerous official busts. Although there is no formal evidence, these works could thus be linked to his artistic circle, both in terms of the quality of their execution and their alignment with the Versailles aesthetic of the late 17th century. We know that Coysevox had links with the House of Condé and was involved in their artistic commissions, notably at Chantilly, which reinforces the plausibility of such an association.
Henri-Jules de Bourbon-Condé (1643–1709) was the only son of the Grand Condé, one of the greatest military commanders of the 17th century, and of Claire-Clémence de Maillé. A cousin of Louis XIV, he initially held the title of Duke of Enghien before becoming Prince of Condé in 1686. Admitted to the Order of the Holy Spirit in 1661, he pursued a military career and held an important position at court. His character, however, was described by his contemporaries as volatile and at times violent, which stood in stark contrast to the prestige of his lineage.
Anne-Henriette of Bavaria (1648–1723), wife of Henri-Jules, was the daughter of Edward of the Palatinate and Anne of Gonzaga. Born into a family of the European high nobility, she married the Duke of Enghien in 1663 and became Princess of Condé in 1686. Known for her piety and dignity, she held an important position at the French court and took care to uphold the prestige of the House of Condé, despite the difficulties posed by her husband’s character.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like