Demoiselle en Masque, Court Lady of Henri III, handcolored engraving, ca. 1900
€ 340
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1900
Mapmaker / artist
Georges Jacques Gatine after Louis Marie Lanté, reprint Paris, ca. 1900
Technique
Handcolored engraving
Sheet size
33.5 × 25 cm (13.2 × 9.8 in)
Reference
BG-13158-23
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Very good. General light toning consistent with age. A few minor margin spots, not affecting the image. Strong hand coloring, blank verso.
About this sheet
Demoiselle en Masque, Court Lady of Henri III, handcolored engraving, ca. 1900
Rare handcolored engraving depicting a French court lady wearing a black mask during the reign of King Henri III (1551–1589). The lady is dressed in an elaborate black gown with richly embroidered details, upright lace collar, puffed sleeves adorned with striking red and gold accents, and a jewelled belt from which hang ornamental accessories. Her face is completely concealed by a black velvet mask, a striking detail reflecting the masked entertainments and elaborate courtly rituals of the late Renaissance in France.
This engraving is a ca. 1900 reprint after the celebrated series Galerie Française de Femmes Célèbres, first published in Paris in 1827. Designed by Louis Marie Lanté and engraved by Georges Jacques Gatine, these plates were based on sources preserved by Roger de Gaignières, the antiquarian whose collection recorded French costume and portraiture from earlier centuries.
The unusual subject of a “Demoiselle en Masque” captures the theatrical and ritualized aspect of Henri III’s court, famous for its elaborate entertainments and distinctive fashions. The contrast between the dark costume, brilliant sleeve ornaments, and the enigmatic mask makes this plate both historically intriguing and visually dramatic, appealing to collectors of costume history, French royal iconography, and decorative prints.
Framing tips: The print would be strikingly presented in a wide ivory or cream mount with a dark wood or ebony frame to highlight the deep blacks, while a gilt inner line could draw attention to the vivid reds and golds.
