Marie Caroline Duchess of Berry Portrait Print French Royalist History

Description

Marie Caroline Duchess of Berry Portrait Print French Royalist History

This 19th-century print depicts Marie-Caroline of Bourbon-Sicily Duchess of Berry, born on 5 November 1798 and deceased on 16 April 1870.

The wife of Charles-Ferdinand d’Artois Duke of Berry and mother of the Count of Chambord, she was a prominent figure in 19th-century French royalism. In 1832, she sought to raise a royalist rebellion in the Vendée and areas associated with the Chouan movement, hoping to secure the French throne for her son under the name Henri V. Following the failure of this undertaking, she went into hiding in Nantes, where she was arrested.

The portrait shows the Duchess standing alone in an elegant architectural setting with a monumental column and a decorative vase of flowers. Her elaborate gown, feathered headdress, gloves and jewellery receive careful attention in the engraved composition.

The print bears the drawing credit “Pauquet del.” and an abbreviated French title identifying the Duchess of Berry. It offers an interesting subject for collectors of Bourbon portraits, French Restoration imagery and the history of the legitimist movement.

Details

• Period: 19th century.

• Support: stiff heavyweight paper.

• Sheet dimensions: 21.5 × 15.7 cm.

• Engraved image dimensions: 16.4 × 10.6 cm.

• Monochrome impression.