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an image of a painting of a woman in a white dressa painting of a woman in a white dress standing in front of a mountainpainting of a woman in a white dress standing in a fieldan image of a painting of a woman in a white dressan old photo of a man in a top hat standing next to a doga painting of a woman with a snake in her hand
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587 - Théodore VALERIO (Hersange, 1809 – Vichy, 1879)
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Estimate €3,000 - €3,500
Sale commission
Description
Théodore VALERIO (Hersange, 1809 – Vichy, 1879) Sava Birtinka, a Greek woman from Ségar, 1852. Watercolour over a black chalk sketch. Height: 39.5 cm Width: 27.5 cm Signed lower left ‘VALERIO’. Provenance: - Collection of Empress Eugénie de Montijo, donated before 1879 to Count Davillier, First Squire to Napoleon III; - Subsequently in the Davillier family, sold from the estate of the Count’s daughter; - France, private collection. Théodore Valerio, renowned for his watercolours depicting the many ethnic groups that made up the population of the Austro--Hungarian Empire right to the borders of the Balkans during his various journeys undertaken between 1851 and 1854, presented this watercolour to Empress Eugénie de Montijo on the occasion of the 1855 World’s Fair. This young Greek woman from Ségar (Žegar) was the subject of another version dated 1852, held in Paris under inventory number EBA 9848, which is slightly larger in size (464 x 284 mm). It differs from our version, however, in a few details, such as the facial expression and the embroidery on the tunic. She is depicted against a neutral background, whereas our version shows her against a mountainous landscape. Like many of the imperial couple’s possessions, this drawing accompanied Napoleon III and his wife into exile in London and was presented to Count Davillier (see the photographic portrait by Gray) in recognition of his unwavering service throughout his career as an officer and chief equerry to Napoleon III. Count Davillier-Regnaud was an aide-de-camp and very close to the couple in exile. It was he who was present during the Emperor’s final moments and closed his final resting place in Chislehurst. Having remained in the service of Empress Eugénie for several years, he was due to return to France in 1879. The drawing retains Count Davillier’s autograph inscription from the original mounting, certifying its provenance from Empress Eugénie’s collection. Bibliography: Théophile Gautier, *L’Orient*, Paris, Fasquelle, 1893, pp. 21–68. Christine Peltre, ‘Th. Valerio’s Journey to Hungary’, *Le Pays lorrain*, 1986, pp. 81–88. Christine Peltre, ‘Valerio’s Orient’, Milan, FMR no. 34, 1991, plates.
See original version (French)
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About the sale PRESTIGE - CLASSICAL CENTURIES - VAYRES CASTLE
Auction location
Auction time 10/18/2026 at 2:00 PM
Lot description modified on 09/30/2026 at 10:08 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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