JEAN BAPTISTE JACQUES AUGUSTIN (FRENCH, 1759-1832): PORTRAIT MINIATURE OF LOUIS XVIII

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. UA89VZJP.

Provenance:
D. S. Lavender Antiques Ltd, 139A New Bond Street, London

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.

In 1819, Louis XVIII appointed Augustin 'peintre en miniature et en émail de la chambre et du cabinet du roi' and 'premier peintre en miniature' in 1824. The artist had been made a Knight of the Legion d'Honneur three years earlier in 1821.

A number of other variants of this portrait miniature by Augustin exist, including an enamelled version, signed and dated 1822, which is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art (Inv. no.1940.1201). For a similar version on ivory held by the Musée du Louvre (Inv. no.145), see P. Jean-Richard, Inventaire des Miniatures sur Ivoire Conservées au Cabinet des Dessins Musée du Louvre et Musée d'Orsay, 1994, p.43, ill.no.34.

The last French monarch to die whilst on the throne, Louis XVIII was the son of Louis, Dauphin of France (1729-1765), the only surviving son of Louis XV and Marie Leszczyńska. His mother was the Dauphin's second wife, Maria Josepha of Saxony (1731-1767). At the time of his birth, Louis XVIII was only fourth in line to the throne behind his father and two brothers, Louis, Duc de Burgundy and Louis, Duc de Berry. The former died in 1761 and their father died in 1765, elevating Louis to second in line. His brother, the Duc de Berry acceeded to the French throne as Louis XVI upon their grandfather's death in 1774.

On 14th May 1771, Louis married Princess Maria Giuseppina of Savoy (1753-1810), daughter of Victor Amadeus, Duke of Savoy and his wife Maria Antonia Ferdinanda of Spain. Louis and his wife are known to have struggled in their relationship. The marriage is said to have remained unconsummated for years and biographers disagree as to why. Common theories include Maria's poor personal hygiene and Louis' obesity. Maria however fell pregnant on two occasions in 1774 and 1781 but both instances resulted in miscarriages and the couple never produced any issue.

Prior to his accession to the throne, Louis XVIII (who affectionately became known as 'Le Désiré') spent twenty-three years in exile during the French Revolution and the reign of the First French Empire. On 21st September 1792, the National Convention abolished the monarchy and Louis XVI was executed by guillotine on 21st January the following year. When his son, Louis XVII died in prison, aged ten, on 8th June 1795, Louis XVIII succeeded his nephew as titular King. A brief period in 1815 (known as the Hundred Days) upon Napoleon's return from Elba saw Louis XVIII retreat into exile again before a Seventh Coalition declared war on the French Empire and defeated Napoleon. Louis XVIII was subsequently restored to the throne and ruled France and Navarre for just under a decade.