Presumed portrait of madame de sévigné (1626-1696), french writer. "jean petitot's career as an enamellist spanned seven decades of the seventeenth-century and took him from his birthplace in geneva to the courts of charles i in london and of louis xiv in paris. He is widely regarded as the most important enamellist of his period on account of the incomparable quality and prolific nature of his work. Petitot achieved notable success at the french court where he had sought refuge after the outbreak of the civil war in england in 1643 or 1644. He had first developed his skills in enamelling at the court of charles i in 1637 and the highly accomplished portraits which produced, with their rich colouring, and smoothly blended brushstrokes, were soon much in demand at the french court where he was swiftly appointed court painter in enamel to louis xiv. He received extensive patronage from the king and his circle at court until the revocation of the edict of nantes (1685) when, as a protestant, he was forced to return to geneva. When this miniature was first recorded in the royal collection during the mid-nineteenth century, it was identified incorrectly as anne marie louise d'orléans, duchesse de montpensier. However, comparison with the pastel portrait by robert nanteuil at the musée carnavalet, paris, suggests that it may be intended to be a portrait of madame de sévigné (see also 421373). " [1]. Date: circa 1650. Dimensions: height: 3.5 cm (1.3 in); width: 3 cm (1.1 in). Medium: miniature on enamel. Collection: Royal Collection. Petitot - Portrait of a Lady, possibly Marie, marquise de Sévigné - Royal Collection
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