An Important Portrait Miniature of the Duke of Berry, facing left in a yellow-piped dark green uniform with black stock and white collar, silver cross sash, aiguillettes and epaulettes, decorated with the badges of the Royal French Orders of the Saint-Louis and the Lily and the blue moiré sash and silver breast star of the Royal French Order of the Holy Ghost

Charles-Ferdinand of Bourbon, Duke of Berry was born in 1778, the second son of the Count of Artois and his wife, Princess Maria Teresa of Savoy (see lot 44). He emigrated with his parents in 1789 and fought against the Revolutionary troops. In 1801 he settled in England and married Amy Brown with whom he had two daughters. His family did not recognise this union and they forced him to marry Marie-Caroline of Bourbon-Sicilies in 1816. After the birth of a daughter in 1819, the Duke of Berry was murdered in 1820, the year this miniature was painted. He did not live to see the birth of his son, the future Duke of Bordeaux. A miniature by Augustin of 1816, depicting Amy Brown, the morganatic wife of the Duke of Berry, was sold Sotheby's, London, 7 November 1996, lot 269.
For a miniature of the Duke of Berry by Augustin's pupil Sieurac, see lot 150.