|
|
FRENCH MINIATURE PORTRAIT BERNARD FRANCK COLLECTION.
French miniature portrait on ivory of a lady with blue hat, believed to be Marie Antoinette. Early 19C.
Round painting in simple old copper/brass frame 2 1/8 inches (52mm) with a ring for hanging.
Beautiful woman with green eyes. Marie Antoinette often dressed as a shepherdess, but the hints of a sumptous background seen in the large park with high buildings and pillars, as well as the rich wig and hat, the flowers woven around the dress and red ribbon around her waist, all belie her real identity. The ribbon in her hair, red, white and blue are symbolic of France.
The painting is technically superior and very professionally done, with wonderful detail to the beautiful face. The sensuousness is enhanced by the pose with one exposed breast. Fabulous painting of sky with puffy clouds and hints of garden.
We have not opened the back, so we do not know what extra information is written there, but the back of the frame has the original lables from the Bernard Franck collection.
Condition of frame is fair, but the painting is in very good shape with no losses/restorations of any sort. There is indistinct writing that could be a signature, on the perimeter on the pillar, which may be clarified if the painting was out of the frame.
BERNARD FRANCK (1848-1924)
Bernard Franck was born in Paris in 1848. He was a veteran of the 1870 Franco-Prussian War, during which he was awarded the Medaille Militaire. He was an industrialist, specializing in the manufacturing of military equipment. His success in business enabled him to become an inveterate collector.
He amassed his vast collection over 45 years from 1875 to 1920. The collection consisted of 18th Century and early 19th Century objects – miniature portraits (many emphasizing military subjects), medals and decorations, armory, uniforms, paintings, engravings, a variety of bibelots.
Besides the miniature portraits, especially noteworthy was Franck’s collection of Carnets de Bal (dance cards). He sold this collection to J.P.Morgan around 1910. Before doing so, he had the collection reproduced in an album entitled "Collection de 124 carnets de bal du XVIIIe siecle/formee par M.Bernard Franck a Paris de l’annee 1875 au 23 avril 1902". Only 20 albums were produced, of which one is in the Watson Library of the Metropolitan Museum and one in the Morgan Library, autographed by Franck to Morgan. Franck died in 1924. The collection that follows has been held within the family since that time. |
|
