PORTRAIT OF LOUIS XVII IN PRISON OF TEMPLE, MINIATURE CIRCA 1793-1794

TECHNIQUE: Watercolor and gouache, under a convex glass

ARSTIST:

SIGNED:

FRAME : Gilded metal and velvet frame

PORTRAIT SIZE: 6.5x5.2cm

FRAME SIZE: 11x9cm

DESCRIPTION :

Rare portrait showing the young Prince Louis XVII to the prison of Temple, dressed as a revolutionary.

A great majority  of Louis XVII's portraits date from the beginning of the 19th century or from the Restoration period . For this miniature, the pictorial touch as well as molds (removed by Mr B. Pappe) are them characteristics of  works from the end of 18th century.

The young prince is separated from  Queen Marie-Antoinette on July 1st, 1793 and put under the guarding of the shoemaker Simon and his wife. They force the child to adopt the ideas of french Revolution, clothes,  patriotic songs, testimonies against his mother... nothing is spared to him.

It is exactly of this short period which this rare miniature dates. The child is shown alone in his gaol, put on by a Phrygian cap, his face turned to the sky,  wrinkled hand, in a pause mixing anger and sadness.


CONDITION: Perfect condition. Cleaned by Dr. Bernd Pappe.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

PRICE: 1500€