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Lot Essay
The present drawing represents two members of the Orléans household seated near a terrace in the château de Saint Cloud in 1762. Saint Cloud was bought by Philippe d'Orléans, brother of King Louis XIV, in 1658. Louis d'Orléans, son of the Régent, left the property to his son Louis-Philippe (1725-1785), who then sold it to Queen Marie-Antoinette in 1785.
The Chevalier de Saint Mars, on the left of the present drawing, is also depicted in a drawing by Carmontelle representing six members of the Orléans household seen from behind and looking at the garden in Saint Cloud (exhibited at the Archives Nationales, Paris, Louis-Philippe, l'homme et le roi, 1974, no. 17). The dog Favorita in the foreground of the present drawing appears also in the drawing exhibited in 1984, between the two figures on the right, looking at the viewer. Bellile was, like Saint Mars, gentilhomme du duc, and in addition was in charge of the Duke's finances.
The inscription on the mount translates as 'What could be sweeter than the friendship of tender souls? It is the consolation for living and true pleasure' alluding to the two men's close friendship.
The Chevalier de Saint Mars, on the left of the present drawing, is also depicted in a drawing by Carmontelle representing six members of the Orléans household seen from behind and looking at the garden in Saint Cloud (exhibited at the Archives Nationales, Paris, Louis-Philippe, l'homme et le roi, 1974, no. 17). The dog Favorita in the foreground of the present drawing appears also in the drawing exhibited in 1984, between the two figures on the right, looking at the viewer. Bellile was, like Saint Mars, gentilhomme du duc, and in addition was in charge of the Duke's finances.
The inscription on the mount translates as 'What could be sweeter than the friendship of tender souls? It is the consolation for living and true pleasure' alluding to the two men's close friendship.