The marquise du Châtelet, facing left in fur-bordered blue velvet dress with embroidered white underdress, fastened at corsage by gem-set brooch, fur choker, short powdered curled hair; standing in an interior before a bookcase containing books titled 'LOCK' [sic], 'ZAIRE' (Voltaire's tragedy of 1732) and 'NEVTON' [sic], a table strewn with a compass, a jewelled ring, a globe, an open jewellery box with string of pearls; pillar and brocade curtain background with landscape beyond
Details
FRENCH SCHOOL, CIRCA 1745/1750
The marquise du Châtelet, facing left in fur-bordered blue velvet dress with embroidered white underdress, fastened at corsage by gem-set brooch, fur choker, short powdered curled hair; standing in an interior before a bookcase containing books titled 'LOCK' [sic], 'ZAIRE' (Voltaire's tragedy of 1732) and 'NEVTON' [sic], a table strewn with a compass, a jewelled ring, a globe, an open jewellery box with string of pearls; pillar and brocade curtain background with landscape beyond
on vellum
rectangular, 1 13/16 x 2 9/16 in. (46 x 65 mm.), gilt-metal frame with beaded border
The marquise du Châtelet, facing left in fur-bordered blue velvet dress with embroidered white underdress, fastened at corsage by gem-set brooch, fur choker, short powdered curled hair; standing in an interior before a bookcase containing books titled 'LOCK' [sic], 'ZAIRE' (Voltaire's tragedy of 1732) and 'NEVTON' [sic], a table strewn with a compass, a jewelled ring, a globe, an open jewellery box with string of pearls; pillar and brocade curtain background with landscape beyond
on vellum
rectangular, 1 13/16 x 2 9/16 in. (46 x 65 mm.), gilt-metal frame with beaded border
Sale room notice
The sitter has been identified as the marquise du Châtelet. Gabrielle-Emilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, marquise du Châtelet-Lomont (1706-1749), daughter of the Baron de Breteuil. An outstanding beauty, she was married in 1725 but in 1733 she met Voltaire and became his mistress. Voltaire came to live with her at her husband's estate at Cirey. She was also a famous scholar and writer. Having learned Latin and Italian with her father, she published several works on physics between 1740 and 1744. Her chief work was her translation into French of Newton's Principia Mathematica to which the inscription in the present miniature alludes.
We are indebted to Barbara Scott for the identification of the sitter.
We are indebted to Barbara Scott for the identification of the sitter.