Master Paintings and 19th Century European Art
Master Paintings and 19th Century European Art
Property from a Distinguished Private Collection
François Pascal Simon Gérard, called Baron Gérard, and Studio
Portrait of Eléonore de Mortemart, née Montmorency (1776-1863), half-length, in a white satin dress with a red shawl
Auction Closed
May 25, 07:43 PM GMT
Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Property from a Distinguished Private Collection
François Pascal Simon Gérard, called Baron Gérard, and studio
Rome 1770 - 1837 Paris
Portrait of Eléonore de Mortemart, née Montmorency (1776-1863), half-length, in a white satin dress with a red shawl
oil on canvas
canvas: 25 ¾ by 21 ¾ in.; 65.4 by 55.3 cm.
framed: 34 ¼ by 30 in.; 87 by 76.2 cm.
Paty de Clam collection;
By whom sold, Paris, Hôtel Drouot, 14 June 1991, lot 10;
Where acquired by Wildenstein & Co., London;
From whom acquired by the present collector, 1993.
Eléonore de Mortemart, comtesse de Montmorency, married Alexandre, the eight duc de Rohan in 1785. This supremely elegant portrait was completed in 1811. Here the duchesse wears a stylish satin dress with an empire waist, wrapped loosely with a bold crimson shawl, the embroidered trim of which peeks out in the folds along her left elbow. Her jewelry is magnificent and includes a pearl necklace, diamond tiara, and a pair of large drop pearl earrings which emphasize her long, elegant neck. She looks directly at the viewer with a calm, confident gaze.
Gérard painted the sitter on at least three occasions. The prime version of this portrait remains in the Rohan family, at Château de Josselin in Morbihan, Brittany. Another portrait of the Duchess, also by Gérard and his studio, was in the collection of Maurice Segoura and sold in his sale at Christie's New York, 19 October 2006, lot 31.
We are grateful to Alain Latreille for his assistance in the cataloguing of this lot.