Miniature portrait of Sophie Philippine Elisabeth of France (Versailles, in July 27th, 1734 - Versailles, in March 2nd, 1782), more known under the name of Madam Sophie. She is the sixth of the daughters and the eighth of ten children of Louis XV and Marie Leszczynska. (Whose miniature portraits are also proposed on our website).

Our miniature, of an exeptionnal pictorial quality, is painted on vellum,  and  contemporary of the portrait made by Jean-Marc Nattier of the Princess in 1748. The work resumes the portrait but by widening its composition to make it rectangular and horizontal and to be able to be mounted on the lid of a rich snuff box, offered by the royal family. The snuff box,  invaluable diplomatic present often made with gold and diamonds, disappeared (doubtless unsettled and sold) and the miniature mounted again in  19th century in a crowned golden bronze frame.This practice of dismantling  snuff boxes offered by the royal family was regrettably current, sometimes even after the present received, the jewelers  saw returning to them a snuff box that they just  deliver to the " menus Pleasures of king".