Portrait Of Petrus Boreel From Mauregnault (1809-1875), Signed And Dated 1867 By E. Piron

The sitter in this attractive portrait is Petrus Alexander Jacobus Henricus Boreel de Mauregnault. He was born in Heumen, The Netherlands 18th June 1809. In 1850 he married Maria Judith Gulje (1814-1899); together the couple had two children. The family lived in Deventer. Petrus died in Den Bosch on 3rd April 1875. In 1892 Maria inherited Asten Castle from her deceased brother Joannes Amandus Guljé, and she became Lady Asten. The de Mauregnault family were from Hainaut and have belonged to Dutch nobility since 1815. The origins of their wealth began with cloth merchant Jehan Mauregnault (c.1520-c.1572). His son Johan de Mauregnault (1540-1587) was made a knight by governor Matthias of Austria in 1578; he was murdered in Middelburg in 1587. In 1651, Caspar de Mauregnault (1612-1680) married Agnes Boreel (1624-1667) and the family became Boreel de Mauregnault. In the Netherlands, the male branches became extinct in 1998. The portrait is signed “E Piron” and dated (18)67 bottom left. He has been depicted wearing a black double-breasted coat and two striking metal epaulettes, held in place by gold passants, and accoutrements. The sitter is thought to have been a Major. These large-scale military works were popular during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and still remain popular today. Many artists were working in this lucrative area. Eugène Piron was an artist who was Belgian or Dutch. The artist painted the sitter, and his wife, 15 years earlier (in 1852). The current location of these works is unknown but in 1952 they were in a private collection. Measurements: Height 119cm, Width 93cm, Depth 9cm framed (Height 46.75”, Width 36.5, Depth 3.5” framed)