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FRENCH MINIATURE PORTRAIT BERNARD FRANCK COLLECTION.
French miniature portrait on ivory of Madame Denis, niece of Voltaire, late 18C.
Round painting Measures 1 1/8 inch /40mm in diameter (site).
Beautifully painted with very fine detail to facial features. The lady wears an exquisite yellow silk embroidered jacket over a startling blue/turquoise dress with a bow in front. A simple black band around her neck and lace bonnet with train on her head. While not classically beautiful, the painter has managed to express a wonderful softness and intelligence that are even more intrigueing and befitting the relation of the famous French philosopher.
Have not opened the back, so don't know if more information written there. Back of frame has original Bernard Franck lables with information about the sitter.
The original frame is not in good condition, with dents on both sides. However, the painting is in very good condition with no damage/loss of any sort.
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.
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