French School
Portrait enamel of Prince James Francis Edward Stuart, ‘The Old Pretender’ (1688-1766), wearing suit of armour, blue sash of the Order of the Garter, white lace chemise and stock, red mantle, his wig worn curled and powdered, c. 1705
Enamel
Rectangular, 2 5/8 x 1 7/8 in. (66 x 48 mm)
Philip Mould & Co.
To view all current artworks for sale visit philipmould.com Although the artist of this vibrant portrait miniature is not known, this portrait-type derives from Alexis-Simon Belle’s private cabinet painting...
To view all current artworks for sale visit philipmould.com
Although the artist of this vibrant portrait miniature is not known, this portrait-type derives from Alexis-Simon Belle’s private cabinet painting of the prince dating to 1702. This was the first portrait to depict James Frances Edward Stuart in full armour and was painted the same year that war was declared between Britain and France. Before Belle’s portrait was completed, James III had succeeded his father as Jacobite king. Another version of this portrait miniature, almost certainly by the same artist, was sold at Christie’s in 1991 alongside its pair depicting Maria Clementina Sobieska, James Stuart’s wife.
James Francis Edward Stuart, otherwise known as ‘The Old Pretender’, is one of the most emotive characters in British history. He was the only son of James II and his second wife Mary of Modena and following his father’s loss of the English throne and voluntary exile from England in 1688, James was raised in France under the patronage of Louis XIV. He mounted several campaigns to reclaim the English throne as James III in 1706, 1708 and finally in 1715 when he landed at Peterhead in Scotland, but all of these were unsuccessful. He married the Polish Princess Maria Clementina Sobieska in 1719 and spent much of the remainder of his life in exile in Rome. His eldest son, Prince Charles Edward Stuart or ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’, similarly sought to regain the English throne resulting in defeat in 1745. Supporters of their cause – numerous amongst the French, the Scots and English Catholics – were known as Jacobites.
At the time this portrait miniature was painted, c.1705, Anne had been declared queen of England, Scotland and Ireland which had significantly reduced Jacobite contact with England. Scotland, however, in harsh contrast, were unhappy that war had broken out again between England and France and passed a Security Bill in 1703 declaring that Scotland should be able to choose her own successor. This Bill received royal assent in 1704. The increased contact that the Stuart Court had with Scotland led to several portraits of James Francis Edward Stuart being painted on the Continent, particularly in France. These portraits were essentially political propaganda to further the Jacobite cause and portraits such as the present work became ideal souvenirs for travelling Scots to take home with them.
Although the artist of this vibrant portrait miniature is not known, this portrait-type derives from Alexis-Simon Belle’s private cabinet painting of the prince dating to 1702. This was the first portrait to depict James Frances Edward Stuart in full armour and was painted the same year that war was declared between Britain and France. Before Belle’s portrait was completed, James III had succeeded his father as Jacobite king. Another version of this portrait miniature, almost certainly by the same artist, was sold at Christie’s in 1991 alongside its pair depicting Maria Clementina Sobieska, James Stuart’s wife.
James Francis Edward Stuart, otherwise known as ‘The Old Pretender’, is one of the most emotive characters in British history. He was the only son of James II and his second wife Mary of Modena and following his father’s loss of the English throne and voluntary exile from England in 1688, James was raised in France under the patronage of Louis XIV. He mounted several campaigns to reclaim the English throne as James III in 1706, 1708 and finally in 1715 when he landed at Peterhead in Scotland, but all of these were unsuccessful. He married the Polish Princess Maria Clementina Sobieska in 1719 and spent much of the remainder of his life in exile in Rome. His eldest son, Prince Charles Edward Stuart or ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’, similarly sought to regain the English throne resulting in defeat in 1745. Supporters of their cause – numerous amongst the French, the Scots and English Catholics – were known as Jacobites.
At the time this portrait miniature was painted, c.1705, Anne had been declared queen of England, Scotland and Ireland which had significantly reduced Jacobite contact with England. Scotland, however, in harsh contrast, were unhappy that war had broken out again between England and France and passed a Security Bill in 1703 declaring that Scotland should be able to choose her own successor. This Bill received royal assent in 1704. The increased contact that the Stuart Court had with Scotland led to several portraits of James Francis Edward Stuart being painted on the Continent, particularly in France. These portraits were essentially political propaganda to further the Jacobite cause and portraits such as the present work became ideal souvenirs for travelling Scots to take home with them.