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Lot Essay
The present plate is one of seventy-three that comprised a service of some ninety-five pieces given by the king to the noted English portrait painter Sir Thomas Lawrence in recognition of the latter's trip to Paris in 1825 to paint the portraits of both the king and his son, the dauphin. Each plate cost 60 livres, with the total cost of the service recorded at 8,100 livres.
What remained of the service was sold after his death at Christie's Great Rooms, 5 July 1834 in two lots, described as follows:
The following superb Dessert Service of Sevres Porcelain was presented to the late Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A., by Charles X
Lot 15
A Centre pierced bowl on stem, a pair of circular dishes, a pair of ditto on stems, and one dozen of plates with purple borders, richly gilt, the plates beautifully painted with bouquets of flowers, each varying in design. (15 pounds to Harding)
Lot 16
ditto (15 guineas to Josi)
The present plate was presumably included in this sale. Unfortunately, as the lot was not illustrated, there is no way to be positive. Other single plates are in the collection of the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle and the National Museum and Gallery in Cardiff.
Aside from the beauty of the flower painting and the interesting provenance, the service is noteworthy in that the innovative technique of printing in gold and platinum perfected by Louis-Charles Constans in 1817 was used to create the elaborate border decoration.
Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) was arguably the most successful portrait painter of the Romantic age. He was appointed court painter to the king of England in 1792 and president of the Royal Academy in 1820. The roster of his subjects reads like a political and social 'who's who' of the day, and includes several portraits of George IV and his family, portraits of Sir Horace Walpole, The Duke of Wellington, the accomplished statesman George Canning and the noted American painter, Benjamin West.
What remained of the service was sold after his death at Christie's Great Rooms, 5 July 1834 in two lots, described as follows:
The following superb Dessert Service of Sevres Porcelain was presented to the late Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A., by Charles X
Lot 15
A Centre pierced bowl on stem, a pair of circular dishes, a pair of ditto on stems, and one dozen of plates with purple borders, richly gilt, the plates beautifully painted with bouquets of flowers, each varying in design. (15 pounds to Harding)
Lot 16
ditto (15 guineas to Josi)
The present plate was presumably included in this sale. Unfortunately, as the lot was not illustrated, there is no way to be positive. Other single plates are in the collection of the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle and the National Museum and Gallery in Cardiff.
Aside from the beauty of the flower painting and the interesting provenance, the service is noteworthy in that the innovative technique of printing in gold and platinum perfected by Louis-Charles Constans in 1817 was used to create the elaborate border decoration.
Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) was arguably the most successful portrait painter of the Romantic age. He was appointed court painter to the king of England in 1792 and president of the Royal Academy in 1820. The roster of his subjects reads like a political and social 'who's who' of the day, and includes several portraits of George IV and his family, portraits of Sir Horace Walpole, The Duke of Wellington, the accomplished statesman George Canning and the noted American painter, Benjamin West.