Architecture & Design · 19th century
€ 330
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Condition report: Very good impression with delicate hand-coloring preserved. Some light toning consistent with age, visible platemark, blank verso.
Hand-Colored Engraving of Mlle d’Orléans, ca. 1900 edition
This elegant hand-colored engraving portrays Mademoiselle d’Orléans (1698–1743), a French princess who, at the age of fifteen, took the veil at the Abbey of Chelles. She was the daughter of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, who served as Regent of France during the minority of King Louis XV. Her life of piety and retreat from the court into religious devotion is reflected in her solemn attire and serene expression.
The print shows her dressed in the traditional dark conventual habit, with a voluminous white veil and wimple framing her youthful face. Unlike the richly adorned gowns of queens and princesses, this portrait emphasizes simplicity and humility, offering a fascinating contrast within the series. Despite the austerity, the engraving retains a sense of grace and dignity, underlining the nobility of her sacrifice and the spiritual path she chose.
This engraving is part of the celebrated series Galerie Française de Femmes Célèbres, first published in Paris in 1827, with designs by Louis-Marie Lanté and engravings by Georges Jacques Gatine. The example here is a later circa 1900 impression, reissued in high-quality hand-color to satisfy a renewed interest in French historical costume and portraiture.
Mlle d’Orléans’ life stands as a reminder of the close ties between royalty and the church in 18th-century France, where dynastic daughters often reinforced political and spiritual power through their religious vocations.
Condition report: Very good impression with delicate hand-coloring preserved. Some light toning consistent with age, visible platemark, blank verso.
Framing tips: A refined presentation would use a dark wood or ebony frame to echo the somber tones of her religious robes, paired with a cream or off-white mat to brighten the composition. This setting highlights the engraving’s quiet dignity and makes it suitable for both historical collections and elegant interiors.
Technique: Hand-colored engraving (later edition, ca. 1900)
Maker: After Louis-Marie Lanté (artist) and Georges Jacques Gatine (engraver), Paris, 1827
