Portrait of Marguerite d'Angouleme, Queen of Navarre
Limoges
(France)
about 1540-1550
Object PlaceLimoges, France
Medium/TechniquePainted enamel and gilding on copper; wooden frame
DimensionsOther (Overall): 9.2cm (3 5/8in.)
Credit LineH. E. Bolles Fund
Accession number47.1542
On View
On viewClassificationsEnamels
Collections
Marguerite was a true Renaissance woman, sister to King Francis I, poet, diplomat, religious reformer, and patron of the arts. This enamel portrait, derived from a drawing attributed to François Clouet, shows her in elegant black but probably also in a period of mourning as indicated by her headdress. Making striking use of the enamel medium to represent her fair skin and blue eyes, her likeness is set on a deep blue filed evoking precious lapis lazuli. The Renaissance Revival frame dates to the late 18th century when it was in the collection of Horace Walpole.
InscriptionsEighteenth-century paper pasted to back of frame, giving Margaret's history, in Horace Walpole's hand.ProvenanceHorace Walpole (b. 1717 - d. 1797), Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, London; May 16, 1842, Strawberry Hill sale, Robins, London, lot 33, to Fuller for 20 gn. Hollingworth Magniac (b. 1786 - d. 1867), Colworth House, Bedfordshire; by descent to his son, Charles Magniac (b. 1827 - d. 1891), London; July 2 and 4, 1892, posthumous Magniac sale, Christie's, London, lot 397. 1947, Paul Drey Gallery, New York; 1947, sold by Drey to the MFA for $900. (Accession Date: December 11, 1947).
