Description:

19th C. Miniature of Napoleon's Mother Letizia Bonaparte in Exquisite Napoleonic Frame

A nineteenth-century miniature portrait of Maria-Letizia Bonaparte née Ramolino (1749-1836), mother of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), presented within an exquisite cast-bronze gilt-washed frame loaded with Napoleonic symbols. Minor loss to the mount along the left edge and a complete but even vertical split running along the center. The top and left edges of the painting suggest retouching or in-painting. Else near fine. The mount measures 2.625" x 3.875." Fitted for hanging, the frame measures 6" x 8.875" x 1.25" overall.

The portrait is watercolor on an unidentified rectangular mount, probably of ivory, bone, or a comparable organic material. It is signed "Lucien Girard" along the right edge of the mount in an area normally partly concealed by the frame edge. The mount is affixed to a piece of fabric-wrapped wood inscribed "Laetitia [sic] Bonaparte" in another hand, and numbered on the stamped cardboard backing. Displayed behind glass and accessible by opening a hinged window verso.

The miniature depicts Napoleon's mother after the original oil on canvas painting by François Gérard (1770-1837) completed ca. 1800-1804 and currently on display in the Scottish National Gallery. "Madame Mère"--as Napoleon's mother was called after imperial decree in 1804--is shown in elegant Empire style dress complete with star-spangled veil, diadem, high-waisted belt, and lace collar. Lucien Girard is also listed as the artist of two other Bonaparte family portraits, Napoleon's younger sisters Pauline and Caroline, in a late-nineteenth-century San Francisco museum catalog. He may have been the French or Belgian artist Lucien Girard (1852-1935).

The elaborate frame deserves some attention. The symbols represented here are either associated with French royalty or Napoleon himself. These symbols include: the "N" for Napoleon; bees (industry); oak leaves (strength); laurel leaves (victory); cross-topped crown (divine mandate); Clovis (first French king); ruling hand (power); eagle (copied from ancient Rome); and the ermine (associated with Northern France, specifically Brittany, and also symbolizing purity.)

Letizia and Carlo Buonaparte had thirteen children of whom eight survived to adulthood. Of these, there was one Emperor, two Kings, one Queen, one Princess, one Prince, and one Grand Duchess. The House of Bonaparte dominated European politics during the first quarter of the nineteenth century.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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