The Discovery of the miniature
The new fortune of the British art dealer Philip Mould
Philip Mould is known not only to experts but also to art lovers, thanks to the popular series of documentaries of the BBC television company, where together with TV presenter Fiona Bruce and art critic Bendor Grosvenor they have a real investigation to establish the authenticity of many artworks. Similar research continues in real life.
A few days ago, the art world was shocked by the news of the discovery of a miniature — a portrait of the French king Henri III. It is worth noting that the Philip Mould Gallery pays special attention to miniature portraits and often organizes exhibitions where you can see works that are in no way inferior to museum objects from the Victoria and Albert Museum or the National Portrait Gallery
Initially, it was believed that on a miniature surface 57 mm in height was depicted Sir Walter Raleigh — Elizabeth Tudor's favorite and one of the most famous people of his time.
However, in the course of the research, Emma Rutherford from the Philip Mould & Co and Alan Derbyshire from V&A Museum found that the miniature portrait does not depict a courtier of the era of Elizabeth, but none other than the French king Henri III painted by Jean Decourt (De Court).
Céline Cachaud, a portrait miniature specialist involved in the study of the portrait notes: "We can now firmly and finally imprint 16th-century royal portraiture with Decourt's name. This groundbreaking discovery will have a major impact on the study of late Valois portraiture and miniature painting in years to come."
Henri III was the son of the French king Henri II of Valois and Catherine de Medici. Henri was born on 19 September 1551, at Fontainebleau. During the reign of Sigismund II Augustus, the French royal couple attempted to marry Henri and the king's unmarried sister, but their efforts were failed. Due to the lack of direct heirs, after the death of Sigismund, it was necessary to choose a new monarch. Henri was one of the candidates for the throne.
However, in the course of the research, Emma Rutherford from the Philip Mould & Co and Alan Derbyshire from V&A Museum found that the miniature portrait does not depict a courtier of the era of Elizabeth, but none other than the French king Henri III painted by Jean Decourt (De Court).
Céline Cachaud, a portrait miniature specialist involved in the study of the portrait notes: "We can now firmly and finally imprint 16th-century royal portraiture with Decourt's name. This groundbreaking discovery will have a major impact on the study of late Valois portraiture and miniature painting in years to come."
Henri III was the son of the French king Henri II of Valois and Catherine de Medici. Henri was born on 19 September 1551, at Fontainebleau. During the reign of Sigismund II Augustus, the French royal couple attempted to marry Henri and the king's unmarried sister, but their efforts were failed. Due to the lack of direct heirs, after the death of Sigismund, it was necessary to choose a new monarch. Henri was one of the candidates for the throne.
Jean Decourt (De Court) (circa 1530 – after 1585) Portrait of Henry III, King of France Bodycolor highlighted with gold on vellum Annotated on the back by a contemporary hand (by the artist?): faict·par·decovrt·1578 H. 57 mm. ©Philip Mould & Co
Detail. Jean Decourt (De Court) (circa 1530 – after 1585) Portrait of Henry III, King of France Bodycolor highlighted with gold on vellum Annotated on the back by a contemporary hand (by the artist?): faict·par·decovrt·1578 H. 57 mm. ©Philip Mould & Co
On 21 February 1574, Henri's coronation took place in Krakow. His tenure on the Polish throne did not last long. It was assumed that Henri was still to marry Sigismund's sister Anna. But the king tried to delay the engagement as much as possible. In the summer of the same year, the king receives news from France that his brother Charles IX has died. Henri decides to return to Paris to take the French throne. He escapes Poland under cover of the night on June 19.
Already on 11 February 1575, he was crowned at Reims. But on French soil, not everything was calm — the country was constantly shaken by conflicts with the Huguenots.
This led to the fact that in 1588 the king was forced to leave Paris for Blois, and in 1589 the king was killed by a young Dominican monk. Henri III died on 2 August 1589.
The personality of Henri is the subject of research by many specialists. Many researchers are inclined to believe that the king's manner of dressing up in women's outfits and a number of minions at court are indicators of the monarch's homosexuality.
Others, however, deny these hypotheses. Unfortunately, the events associated with the monarch's life were a definite blow to his reputation, which largely explains the small number of his surviving images.
Already on 11 February 1575, he was crowned at Reims. But on French soil, not everything was calm — the country was constantly shaken by conflicts with the Huguenots.
This led to the fact that in 1588 the king was forced to leave Paris for Blois, and in 1589 the king was killed by a young Dominican monk. Henri III died on 2 August 1589.
The personality of Henri is the subject of research by many specialists. Many researchers are inclined to believe that the king's manner of dressing up in women's outfits and a number of minions at court are indicators of the monarch's homosexuality.
Others, however, deny these hypotheses. Unfortunately, the events associated with the monarch's life were a definite blow to his reputation, which largely explains the small number of his surviving images.
In addition to the new identification of the person being portrayed, the specialist managed to find out that the miniature was painted by the master Jean Decourt, who during his life worked at the court of Queen Mary Stuart of Scots, and in 1572 became the court painter of Charles IX, replacing the outstanding master François Clouet.
Text:
Liya Okroshidze
Text:
Liya Okroshidze
François Clouet. Francis II of France 1560. ©Bibliothèque nationale de France
