SIX PORTRAIT MINIATURES OF THE BOURBON-ORLÉANS FAMILY, 19TH CENTURY

Footnotes

Please note, the United States Government has banned the import of ivory into the USA. The item within this lot containing ivory has been registered in accordance with the Ivory Act (Section 10). Ref. KVE5NQDV.

Provenance:
By repute, Victoire, Duchesse de Nemours (1822-1857)

A Private Collection of Jewels and Portrait Miniatures of Bourbon Interest

Lots 1 - 16 form part of a private collection of jewels, portrait miniatures and objects de vertu, predominantly relating to the Bourbon dynasty and dating from the 17th century onwards. Bourbon monarchs united France and part of the kingdom of Navarre in 1589, ruling both until the French Revolution of 1792. Restored briefly in 1814 and finally in 1815 after the fall of the First French Empire, the senior line of the Bourbons was overthrown again in the July Revolution of 1830. A cadet Bourbon branch, the House of Orléans, then ruled for 18 years (1830–1848), until it too was deposed.

Louis Philippe Joseph, Duc de Orléans (1747–1793), known as 'Philippe Égalité' and Louise Marie Adélaïde Penthièvre (1753-1821) were married at the Palace of Versailles in 1769. At the time of their marriage, Marie Adélaïde was the wealthiest heiress in France. The couple were much in love and had three sons and twin daughters but during the Reign of Terror, the couple were torn apart and the fate of their family was cast into peril.

After a long period in exile, their eldest child, Louis Philippe (1773-1850) would eventually become the penultimate monarch of France (1830-1848), but not before his two younger brothers contracted tuberculosis while imprisoned with their father at Fort-Saint-Jean in Marseille. Their father was guillotined in 1793 and their mother exiled to Spain. Louis Antoine (1775-1807) and Louis Charles (1779–1808) later died of their condition within a year of each other - Louis Antoine while in exile in England and Louis Charles while visiting Malta.

Their sister, Françoise, died in 1782, aged four and was survived by her younger twin, Louise Marie Adélaïde Eugénie (1777–1847). Once King, Louis Philippe came to rely heavily on his sister's intelligence, wisdom and loyalty, consulting her daily on both family matters and affairs of state. Raised a liberal by her governess, 'Madame Adélaïde' supported the idea of a constitutional monarchy and a representative government.

Louis Philippe's reign, known as the 'July Monarchy', was dominated by wealthy industrialists and bankers. He promoted friendship with Great Britain and sponsored colonial expansion, notably the French conquest of Algeria. His popularity faded as economic conditions in France deteriorated. Madame Adélaïde died two months before his abdication on 24th February 1848. Louis Philippe spent the remainder of his life in exile in England. His supporters were known as Orléanists.