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The entourage of Jean-Baptiste SANTERRE (1651–1717).
See original version (French)
99
-
The entourage of Jean-Baptiste SANTERRE (1651–1717).
See original version (French)
Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
Voluntary lot
Description
The entourage of Jean-Baptiste SANTERRE (1651–1717). Portrait of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (1674–1723), then ‘Regent of France’, wearing the sash of the Order of the Holy Spirit and a suit of armour
Oil on canvas
Wooden and gilded stucco frame with a moulded border, topped by a cartouche bearing the inscription ‘Donated by Monsieur Frère du Roi to Mr Decalonne, Minister of State, in 1785’
On the back of the frame, an inscription reading ‘Donated by Mr Le D. Decaze in the year 1818 by Milord Count of (...)’
H. 80.5 cm – W. 63.5 cm
Restorations, re-lining, missing sections and wear to the frame
Note:
This portrait of Philippe II d’Orléans, known as ‘the Regent’ (1674–1723) — depicted in gleaming armour and a ‘Léonore’-style wig, characteristic of early 18th-century court painting (from the circle of Alexis Simon Belle or Pierre Gobert, close associates of Jean-Baptiste Santerre, who was the Regent’s official painter) — retains an exceptionally rich history of provenance on its frame and stretcher. The successive inscriptions trace its history within the highest echelons of French politics and Franco-British diplomatic relations between the Ancien Régime and the Restoration.
The original gift under the Ancien Régime (1785): the main cartouche on the frame reads: ‘GIVEN BY THE KING’S BROTHER TO M. DE CALONNE, MINISTER OF STATE, IN 1785’. ‘The King’s brother’ at that time referred to the Count of Provence (the future Louis XVIII). In 1785, the Count of Provence presented this portrait of his great-great-uncle, the Regent, to Charles-Alexandre de Calonne, then Controller-General of Finances under Louis XVI. Calonne, a great art collector, was a close associate of the prince.
The gift to the Duke of Decazes (1818):
on the reverse of the frame, later stencilled inscriptions complete the chain of ownership: ‘GIVEN TO THE DUKE OF DECAZES [by...] in 1818 BY Milord C[te...] OF [...]’. In 1818, Duke Élie Decazes, a favourite of Louis XVIII and then the powerful Minister of the Police (later President of the Council), received this work as a diplomatic or personal gift from a high-ranking British dignitary (‘Milord Cte... ’, probably Count Cathcart, Lord Castlereagh or Lord Clancarty, leading diplomats of the Quadruple Alliance following the Congress of Vienna).
In summary: Far from being a mere anonymous ceremonial portrait, this painting is a valuable record of the history of political collections. Presented in 1785 by the future Louis XVIII to his minister Calonne, exported or traded during the Revolution, it returned to France in 1818 as a British diplomatic gift addressed to the Duke of Decazes, the strongman of Louis XVIII’s government during the Restoration.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
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