Louis, Prince de Condé, Duc d'Enghien (1621-86) is shown on the left. He and Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne (1611-75) were two of the greatest soldiers of 17th-century France. The miniatures, set into this London-made box of 1817-18, were painted between 1800 and 1815 in France, during the vogue for 17th-century French enamel portraits. They are executed after original engravings of Condé (1662) and Turenne (1665) by Robert Nanteuil.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Physical description
A rectangular gold snuffbox, the walls and base chased with scrolling foliage, masks, and a rosette, the cover set with oval enamel miniatures of Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne (1611-75), and Louis, Prince de Condé, duc d'Enghien (1621-86). Henri is bust-length, facing three-quarters to the right, in a dark wig and armour with a lace cravat and sash of the Order of the Holy Ghost. Louis is bust-length, facing three-quarters to the left, in a grey wig and armour with a lace collar. These miniatures are set in gold chased above and below with military trophies and bordered by scrolling foliage. The cover is under glass framed in blue enamel.
Place of Origin
London, England (made)
France (probably, enamelled)
Date
1817-18 (made)
1800-15 (enamelled)
Artist/maker
Northam, John (box maker)
Materials and Techniques
Chased gold, enamelled miniatures and glass
Dimensions
Height: 2.5 cm, Length: 9.2 cm, Width: 6.9 cm
Object history note
The miniatures on this box are after the Swiss miniaturist Jean Petitot (1607-1691) and are taken from engravings by Robert Nanteuil (1623-1678). That of Turenne was engraved in 1665 after a pastel also by Nateuil, now in the Musée du Louvre, and that of Condé was engraved in 1662. A similar enamel miniature of Turenne, although facing in the opposite direction, is in the Louvre (inv. n. RG208).
Historical context note
The two subjects in the miniatures were among the leading warriors of seventeenth century France. They fought together at Freiburg (1644) and Nordlingen (1645) but backed opposite factions during the Fronde. John Northam regsitered his mark as a goldworke
Descriptive line
Rectangular gold snuffbox set with enamel miniatures; John Northam, London, 1817-18
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Truman, Charles.The Gilbert collection of gold boxes, Vol. I. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1991, cat. no. 118, pp. 335-7. ISBN.0875871623
Habsburg-Lothringen, Géza von. Gold boxes from the collection of Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert. R. & A. Gilbert, 1983. 125 p., ill. Cat no. 31, pp. 67-8. ISBN. 0961039809.
Exhibition History
Gold Boxes from the Gilbert Collection (Los Angeles County Museum of Art 01/01/1986-31/12/1987)
Gold Boxes from the Gilbert Collection (Los Angeles County Museum of Art 01/01/1986-31/12/1987)
Gold Boxes from the Gilbert Collection (Los Angeles County Museum of Art 01/01/1986-31/12/1987)
Sèvres Porcelain from the Royal Collection (The Queen's Gallery 01/01/1979-31/12/1979)
Materials
Gold; Enamel; Glass
Techniques
Enamelling; Chasing; Cutting (glassworking)
Collection code
MET
