PIERRE-LOUIS BOUVIER, signed and dated 1801

Details

PIERRE-LOUIS BOUVIER, signed and dated 1801

A fine miniature of Jacob Tronchin seated in a red-upholstered armchair and reading a book, wearing a white night-cap and a blue gown elaborately embroidered with multi-coloured flowers; rectangular -- 85 x 81 mm, gilt-metal mount within a rectangular elm-wood plaque

Provenance

Tronchin Collection at Bessinge (Geneva)

Literature

Jules Crosnier, "Bessinge", Nos Anciens et leurs oeuvres, 1908, ill. p. 114, described p. 115;
J. H. Demole, "Les Émaux et les Miniatures à l'Exposition du Centenaire", Nos Anciens et leurs oeuvres, 1917, p. 83;
Élisabeth della Santa, Pierre-Louis Bouvier, Geneva, 1978, "Biographie", described p. 26, "Album", ill. pl. XXVI.

Exhibited

Exposition Nationale Suisse - Art Ancien, Geneva, Musée Archéologique, 1896, nr 589 (lent by Henry Tronchin);
Exposition rétrospective du Centenaire de l'Entrée de Genève dans la Confédération Suisse, Geneva, Musée Rath, 1914 (lent by Henry Tronchin).

Lot Essay

Jacob Tronchin (1717-1801), was a conseiller and writer, particularly known in 18th century Geneva for his Considérations d'un citoyen sur l'état actuel de Genève. In the present miniature, he is portrayed at the age of 84, a short time before his death. Due to its artistic quality, particularly as far as the natural rendering of the embroidered gown and the flawless drawing of the hands is concerned, this miniature ranks among Bouvier's masterpieces.

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