Watercolor Portrait Of Princess Eleonora Of Mantua By Emile Bourquelot, 19th Century

Watercolor depicting a portrait of Princess Eleonora of Mantua* as a child, based on the painting by Franz Pourbus** housed at the Palatine Gallery in Florence; she would later become the wife of Emperor Ferdinand II; donated by Emile Bourquelot***, in a gilded wooden frame, dating from the 19th century.

This watercolor is in good condition, as is its frame; it is mounted under glass. Handwritten annotation on the back, specifically regarding the provenance: “Donated by Emile Bourquelot in memory of his brother Félix.”

*** Emile Bourquelot (1824–1896) was deputy mayor, librarian, and curator of the Provins City Museum. His brother Félix (1815–1868) was a French historian. The brothers Félix and Emile Bourquelot were dedicated to expanding the collections and knowledge of Provins’ history. They bequeathed their entire personal libraries and papers to the Provins Library.

Please note: a few minor imperfections and missing areas on the frame, signs of age; see photos.

was Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, Queen of Germany, Bohemia, and Hungary, and Archduchess of Austria through her marriage to Ferdinand II of Habsburg in 1622. Eleonora was the youngest daughter of Vincent I of Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, and his wife, Eleonora de’ Medici, herself the older sister of Marie, Queen of France. On February 2, 1622, she married Emperor Ferdinand II in Innsbruck; he had been a widower since the death of Marie-Anne of Bavaria in 1616. Since some of the emperor’s advisors opposed this union, the Gonzaga family derived no benefit from the marriage, and in 1630, during the War of the Mantua Succession, imperial troops captured and ravaged the Italian city.

was a Flemish painter. The son of Frans Pourbus the Elder and grandson of Pieter Pourbus the Elder and Cornelis Floris de Vriendt, he began a brilliant career as an artist by painting portraits for the local bourgeoisie. He was then invited to the court in Brussels to paint portraits of Archduke Albert and Infanta Isabella. His ability to depict the splendor and glory of his aristocratic clients earned him an excellent reputation. He was invited to become the court portraitist for Duke Gonzaga of Mantua (1600–1609), and later for the French court, including Marie de’ Medici. Although he is best knownas a portrait painter, he also painted works on historical and mythological themes.

Reference: 910 387
All photos are available at:
www.antiques-delaval.com