French painting « the Masquerade » , 19th Century - Louis XV style

Superb, rare and large drawing representing a Portrait of Marie d'Orléans-Longueville, Duchess of Nemours, Princess of France. The drawing is perfectly done. Wonderful work of light on the lace in particular which seems to come out of the painting thanks to its bluish tint. The shadow play is magnificent. On thick marked paper. Drawing Dated 1891 and signed. The Signature is probably “Sieur Duval”. Very good Made from the magnificent painting by Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659-1743), painter of the 18th century model dated 1707. The engraver Pierre Drevet (1663-1738) also engraved this work. The work is “Mary by the grace of God, sovereign of Neufchâtel and Vallangin, duchess of Nemours” / « Marie par la grâce de Dieu, souveraine de Neufchâtel et Vallangin, duchesse de Nemours » Description of the work: Half-legged, seated, turned three-quarters to the left, looking straight on, the princess, whose left arm is folded across her chest, holds her crown placed on the table with her right hand. She is dressed in dark court attire, her head covered with a headdress whose tails are tied on the chest. A curtain and the base of a column constituting the second plan. Marie de Nemours, born in 1625 and died on June 16, 1707, is sovereign princess of Neuchâtel and Valangin. Daughter of Henri II of Orléans-Longueville and Louise de Bourbon-Condé, Mademoiselle de Soissons, she was known until her marriage under the name Marie d'Orléans, Mademoiselle de Longueville. Marie d'Orléans, only daughter of the Duke of Bourbon and Longueville, married Henri II of Savoy, last Duke of Nemours, in 1657. The court was surprised that the richest heiress in France agreed to marry this duke without possessions and without consideration, staid and boring. The Duke of Nemours suddenly fell ill and died on January 2, 1659. The Duchess of Nemours survived him for a long time. In 1694, she was recognized as sovereign of the principality of Neuchâtel and Vallangin (Switzerland), by the states of the country, to the exclusion of the Prince of Conti. She died in Paris on June 16, 1707, at the age of 82. Five months later, despite claims of misconduct by the suitors, the court of these same states awarded this small sovereignty to the King of Prussia. The Duchess of Nemours was said to be miserly and carefully hid her rank under cheap clothes. She was devout but suspicious and often changed her confessor. She left Memoirs, recognized to be remarkable for their accuracy, fidelity and charm of style. Hyacinthe Rigaud, famous painter to King Louis XIV, was born in 1659 and died in 1743. He was the major portraitist of the king and his Court at Versailles. Rigaud fixed for three centuries the image of the official portrait of European courts. On the advice of Le Brun, he devoted himself to portraiture, a genre which he elevated to its highest expression. He attracted the attention of the king and the Court with the portrait of Monsieur...

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