STROEHLING Peter Edward (1768-1826). PORTRAIT OF COMTE DE PROVENCE, Louis XVIII, KING OF FRANCE (1755-1824).

TECHNIQUE: Watercolor and gouache on ivory, protected under a convex glass

ARSTIST: STROELY / STROEHLING Peter Edouard

SIGNED:

FRAME : Ormulu gilded and silvered frame

PORTRAIT SIZE: 7,5x5,5cm

FRAME SIZE: 11x7,5cm

DESCRIPTION :

Important miniature by Peter Edward Stroehling, stemming from the famous set of miniatures portraits of the French Royal  family , painted in the end of the 18th century, and belonging to the foster brother of Queen Marie-Antoinette : The Chevalier Joseph Weber.

This group of five miniatures, reproduced page 995 of the dictionary of H. Blattel, consisted of miniatures of various sizes, all painted by Stroehling, in various periods. According to the Chevalier Weber, these miniatures were a present of Queen Marie-Antoinette herself to him.

These miniatures were included in a green shagreen frame, with emblazon and specifying, engraved on a silver patch, the prestigious origin. The Chevalier was so proud of these miniatures which he made them engraved by Schiavonetti and reproduce  in frontispiece of his memoirs of 1804 and 1806.

The frame grouped above on the left Queen Marie-Antoinette's portrait, above on the right the one of Madame Elisabeth (sister of King). Below on the left was Madame Royale's portrait (daughter of King), to the right the one  of the Dauphin (son of King). In the center was the miniature presented here. It shows an unusual portrait of the Count de Provence (brother of King Louis XVI), still young, but already adorned with the royal attributes whom it will wear only much later, in 1815, under the Restoration of monarchy, with the title of Louis XVIII.

This miniature was painted after the murder of King Louis XVI (in January 21st, 1793) and before the engraving of 1806, date the publication in England of the second volume of the memoirs of Weber, where it appears. We can think  that this miniature came to replace, in the center of the composition, a portrait of king Louis XVI paints by Joseph Boze.

Indeed, the enlargement of the  miniature shows an adaptation  to the already existing central frame, where was necessarily a portrait of King Louis XVI. Why by Boze? The study of the engravings of both volumes of the memoirs of Weber presents all the members of  the Royal family by various painters. Many are engraved  after Stroehling's miniatures  (Edward Stroehling pinxit  -  L. Schiavonetti sculp.) such Marie-Antoinette, Madam Royale, the Dauphin, Mrs Elisabeth, Count de Provence ... but Louis XVI was engraved according to a miniature of Boze . It is this larger miniature by Boze who was present in this central frame, and replaced later  (why?) by this portrait of the count of Provence by Stoëhling.

These famous miniatures were quoted in all their works by Léo Schidlof, H.  Blattel or N. Lemoine Bouchard. This famous miniaturist, so appreciated in the court of Russia, displays here, in the portrait of this young sovereign, all his talent, linking the extreme delicacy of his touch to a grey cameo of subtle tints, giving this ethereal espect so characteristic in his works.

This set (doubtless too difficult to sell in its entirety) was unsettled at the end of the XXth century and miniatures were separately sold.

Of return in France, her is  the central miniature of this composition which is presented here.

Provenance :

-Chevalier Weber

-Collection of Dr. Gustav Fall, Vienna

 


CONDITION: Very good original condition. Artist's joins on lower part. Cleaned by Dr. Bernd Pappe.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Bénézit, Lespinasse, Blattel, Schidlof, Darmon, Foster, Thème et Becker, Lemoine Bouchard