Jean-Marc NATTIER (Paris, 1685-1766). - Lot 26

Lot 26
Go to lot
Estimation :
80000 - 100000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 142 340EUR
Jean-Marc NATTIER (Paris, 1685-1766). - Lot 26
Jean-Marc NATTIER (Paris, 1685-1766). Portrait of Louis, Dauphin of France, son of Louis XV. Oval canvas. Height 51 cm; Width: 39.5 cm. Carved and gilded wood frame (accidents), French work of the Louis XV period. Provenance: Purchased from Gaston Neumans on July 2, 1914 by Count X, then remained in the family line. The eldest son of King Louis XV and Marie Leszczynska, Louis de France was born at the Château de Versailles on September 4, 1729. At the time of his birth, the royal couple had only daughters: Louise-Élisabeth, Henriette and Marie-Louise, so the arrival of a male heir was eagerly awaited. The announcement of his birth was celebrated with great pomp by the kingdom's ambassador to Rome, Cardinal Melchior de Polignac. Giovanni Paolo Panini depicted the festivities. The Musée du Louvre now holds this preparation of the fireworks and decorations for the celebration of the Dauphin's birth in Piazza Navona, Rome, on November 30, 1729 (Louvre, INV 415). The Dauphin lived through key moments of his father's reign, notably the War of the Austrian Succession during the famous Battle of Fontenoy, and the assassination attempt by Damiens in 1757. A devout devotee, he chose to go against the grain of Louis XV, whose policies he disapproved of as much as his adulterous relations, becoming an important figure in the devout party. This sober, pious personality is reminiscent of that of his son Louis-Auguste de France, who reigned as Louis XVI. Although he fathered three sovereigns, the dauphin Louis de France never ascended the throne, dying prematurely of tuberculosis in 1765, at the age of 36. Although he never had the opportunity to demonstrate all his qualities, a number of portraits perpetuate his memory. The most notable portraits are preserved in the Château de Versailles museum. One is a full-length, standing portrait by Charles-Joseph Natoire in 1747 (Versailles, Musée du Château, MV 3791), while the other is a seated portrait by Anne-Baptiste Nivelon, painted in 1764, depicting him as a statesman in his study (Versailles, Musée du Château, MV 3793). Alexandre Roslin illustrates him in his military role as colonel of the Dauphin-Dragons regiment in 1765 (Versailles, Musée du Château, MV 6763). Less solemn representations painted around 1765, featuring the Dauphin in bust form and also at Versailles, are known to have been painted by Jean-Martial Frédou (Versailles, Musée du Château, MV 4449) and Alexandre Roslin (Versailles, Musée du Château, INV.DESS 1164). Nattier produced two different portraits of the Dauphin: a three-quarter-length portrait exhibited at the Salon of 1747 (no. 58), the whereabouts of which are unknown today, but which we know thanks to several copies, including the one in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dijon, and an unfinished bust portrait. The portrait in question is probably the one listed under "Mémoires de six portraits de la Famille royale, dont il n'y a que les têtes qui sont achevées, lesdits ouvrages ordonnés pour le service du Roi par M. de Tournehem, au sieur Nattier, années 1748 et suivantes" (A. N. OI 1932) under the heading "Portrait de Mgr le Dauphin , 500 [livres]". Under the heading "État général des portraits faits pour le service du Roy, tant sous les ordres de M. Orry que sous ceux de M. le marquis de Marigny, depuis 1742 jusqu'en 1762, par le sieur Nattier" (A. N. OI 1932) are mentioned "Six portraits de la famille Royale, dont il n'y avait alors que les têtes d'achevées, appréciées chacune la somme de 500 livres, scavoir : [...] une de Mgr. le Dauphin [...] [500 livres]". The portrait appears to have been "at Mlle Silvestre's" home in 1761, probably Marie-Louise-Maximilienne de Silvestre, lecturer to the French Academy of Arts. Silvestre, lectrice to the Dauphine. We would like to thank Mr. Olafur Thordvalsson for his help in describing our painting. Expert: Cabinet TURQUIN - Stéphane PINTA
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue