Presumed Portrait Of Philippe-henri, Marquis De Ségur (1724-1801)
Presumed Portrait of Philippe-Henri, Marquis de Ségur (1724-1801)
Fixed under glass, 18th century Family Provenance This remarkable fixed portrait under glass depicts a senior officer from the late Ancien Régime, dressed in a ceremonial uniform richly embroidered with gold, adorned with epaulettes and braid characteristic of the high ranks of the French military under Louis XVI. The features, powdered hair, and military attire correspond to the known iconography of Philippe-Henri, Marquis de Ségur (1724-1801), an eminent figure in the army and the royal administration. A distinguished officer throughout his military career, he was appointed Secretary of State for War under Louis XVI and attained the supreme dignity of Marshal of France in 1783, a distinction reserved for the kingdom's greatest military servants. The Marquis de Ségur belonged to a family that left a lasting mark on French political and cultural history. He is notably the direct ancestor of the husband of Sophie Rostopchine, the celebrated 19th-century writer known as the Countess of Ségur, author of iconic works of children's literature. A famous portrait of the Marquis was painted by the renowned court portraitist Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun and is now housed at the Palace of Versailles, attesting to his importance in late 18th-century aristocratic society. The reverse glass painting technique, which involves painting on the back of a glass plate so that the image appears through the glass, was particularly prized for portraits and formal portraits. Here, it lends remarkable luminosity and precision to the rendering of the complexions, the powdered wig, and the uniform embroidery. The work boasts an exceptional provenance, having come directly from the family and never having passed through the art market or an outside collection. Preserved within a family estate, this portrait offers an intimate glimpse into the memory and image of an illustrious figure of the French nobility. Its current state of preservation reveals signs of mold and age-related deterioration, a common phenomenon with this type of technique. Specialized cleaning and restoration would restore the image's full legibility and brilliance. This portrait thus remains a rare example of aristocratic representation at the end of the Ancien Régime, combining historical value, family provenance, and technical interest.
Fixed under glass, 18th century Family Provenance This remarkable fixed portrait under glass depicts a senior officer from the late Ancien Régime, dressed in a ceremonial uniform richly embroidered with gold, adorned with epaulettes and braid characteristic of the high ranks of the French military under Louis XVI. The features, powdered hair, and military attire correspond to the known iconography of Philippe-Henri, Marquis de Ségur (1724-1801), an eminent figure in the army and the royal administration. A distinguished officer throughout his military career, he was appointed Secretary of State for War under Louis XVI and attained the supreme dignity of Marshal of France in 1783, a distinction reserved for the kingdom's greatest military servants. The Marquis de Ségur belonged to a family that left a lasting mark on French political and cultural history. He is notably the direct ancestor of the husband of Sophie Rostopchine, the celebrated 19th-century writer known as the Countess of Ségur, author of iconic works of children's literature. A famous portrait of the Marquis was painted by the renowned court portraitist Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun and is now housed at the Palace of Versailles, attesting to his importance in late 18th-century aristocratic society. The reverse glass painting technique, which involves painting on the back of a glass plate so that the image appears through the glass, was particularly prized for portraits and formal portraits. Here, it lends remarkable luminosity and precision to the rendering of the complexions, the powdered wig, and the uniform embroidery. The work boasts an exceptional provenance, having come directly from the family and never having passed through the art market or an outside collection. Preserved within a family estate, this portrait offers an intimate glimpse into the memory and image of an illustrious figure of the French nobility. Its current state of preservation reveals signs of mold and age-related deterioration, a common phenomenon with this type of technique. Specialized cleaning and restoration would restore the image's full legibility and brilliance. This portrait thus remains a rare example of aristocratic representation at the end of the Ancien Régime, combining historical value, family provenance, and technical interest.
1 690 €
Period: 18th century
Style: Louis 16th, Directory
Condition: Some repairs
Length: 57cm
Width: 41cm
Reference (ID): 1730042
Availability: In stock
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