GEORGE ENGLEHEART (BRITISH, 1750/53-1829)

Prospective purchasers are advised that several co… Read more

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTION

Details

GEORGE ENGLEHEART (BRITISH, 1750/53-1829)
Napoleon I (1769-1821), Emperor of France 1804-1814/1815, as First Consul 1799-1804, in profile to the right, in blue coat with high red collar embroidered with gold oak leaves, black stock
inscribed in ink on the backing card 'Napoleon. / First Consul.'
on ivory
oval, 2.9/16 in. (65 mm.) high, gilt-metal mount
Two paper labels on reverse; the first handwritten in ink, 'Napoleon / First Consul / by / GE', the second a part printed, part-handwritten exhibition label, 'ENGLEHEART EXN. / No 286 Lent by / L^{t<\sup>-Col E. L. Engleheart'.}

Provenance

Presumably by direct family descent from the artist.
Sir John Gardner Dillman Engleheart, K.C.B. (1823-1923), of 28 Curzon Street, Mayfair, London, a grand-nephew of the artist, by 1902-1904.
By descent to his son, Lt.-Col. Evelyn L. Engleheart, by 1929.

Literature

G. C. Williamson and H. L. D. Engleheart, George Engleheart 1750-1829, London, 1902, p. 31, illustrated before p. 35 and p. 144.

Exhibited

London, Moncorvo House, 66 Ennismore Gardens, S.W., By kind permission of Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Gretton, 1904, no. 53 (as Napoleon Bonaparte in Uniform of the First Consul, lent by Sir J. Gardner D. Engleheart, K.C.B. and Henry L. D. Engleheart, Esq.).
London, Victoria & Albert Museum, Exhibition of Miniatures by George Engleheart, J.C.D. Engleheart and Thomas Richmond, 1929, no. 166 (as Napoleon as First Consul, lent by Lt.-Col. Evelyn L. Engleheart).

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Brought to you by

Emma Durkin

edurkin@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2609

Lot Essay

An entry in George Engleheart's fee book for 3 January 1801 reads 'Bonaparti finisht' and, according to G. C. Williamson, supra, the family record that the entry refers to a commission, 'but that a replica was done by the artist for himself and retained by him'. The entry in the fee book does not bear the tick which denoted that the portrait was paid for, neither does it bear the cross to denote that it was painted for the artist himself. It is therefore possible that two versions exist and the present example is the one retained by the artist and then passed through the Engleheart family.

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