Henri TESTELIN (1616-1695), entourage de

Lot 55
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Estimation :
1500 - 2000 EUR
Henri TESTELIN (1616-1695), entourage de
Portrait of Louis XIV child Oil on tortoiseshell, in tondo Vers 1640-1650 D. 6,8 cm This rare portrait of a young boy is to be compared with another portrait of Louis XIV child, on tortoiseshell, represented with the crown on a table at his side (private collection). A large number of portraits were produced following his birth and at the time of the coronation of the Sun King. Several painters were called upon to paint and spread his image: the Beaubruns in 1642 (Fundacion Yannick y Ben Jakober, Mallorca) and Charles Le Brun in 1648 (cf. Peintres du roi, p.80-81) who represented him at the age of 12. This work, which no longer exists, gave rise to a large number of portraits by various artists, including one with his brother, the reception piece at the newly created Royal Academy by Henri Testelin (Versailles, MV 102), and a version of Juste d'Egmont (Château d'Ambras). Although the costume is different, the profusion of embroidery and gold threads and especially the blue scarf of the Order of the Holy Spirit strongly support this identification. The shape of the almond-shaped eyes, the poupon aspect and the pinched mouth suggest that the portrait was painted in the 1640's. We attribute it to Henri Testelin's entourage by stylistic comparison. The miniature, now frameless, was originally inserted in a portrait box, as confirmed by the piece of clasp inlaid in the tortoiseshell. Bibliography: Les Peintres du Roi (1648-1793), exhibition catalogue, 2000, pp.80-81 . Prepared by Madame Céline Cachaud, specialist in 16th and 17th century miniatures.
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