Decorative Hand-Colored Portrait – Laure de Noves, “La Belle Laure”, c.1900

About this sheet

Hand-Colored Portrait of Laure de Noves, “La Belle Laure” (after 1827, ca. 1900 edition)

A refined hand-colored engraving of Laure de Noves (1308–1348), celebrated as “La Belle Laure,” the muse of Petrarch, whose poetry immortalized her as an enduring symbol of Renaissance love and devotion. This portrait shows Laure in a sumptuous deep blue gown with gold accents and slashed sleeves, her hair braided and partly covered with an elegant headdress. She holds a scroll in one hand, reinforcing her literary association with Petrarch’s verse.

Laure de Noves, married to Hugues de Sade, became the eternal inspiration of Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). His Canzoniere, a sequence of poems written in her honor, remains one of the defining works of European literature. Through depictions such as this, Laure entered the cultural imagination not merely as a historical figure but as an allegory of beauty, chastity, and poetic muse.

This engraving belongs to the celebrated series Galerie Française de Femmes Célèbres, first published in Paris in 1827 by Louis-Marie Lanté (artist) and Georges Jacques Gatine (engraver). The present example comes from the ca. 1900 reissue of the original copperplates, distinguished by its delicate hand-coloring and fine detail.

Condition report: Very good. The hand-coloring remains vivid, especially the deep blue of the gown. Wide margins, some mild toning consistent with age, blank verso. Paper crease in the lower margin, not affecting the image.

Framing tips: Best displayed with a cream or ivory mat to soften the tones. A gilt frame emphasizes Laure’s role as Petrarch’s immortalized muse, while a dark wood frame enhances the elegance of the blue-gold palette. Double matting with a thin blue line would highlight the richness of the gown.

Technique: Hand-colored engraving (later impression, ca. 1900)
Maker: After Louis-Marie Lanté (artist) and Georges Jacques Gatine (engraver), Paris, 1827