Hand-Colored Engraving of a Lady of the Court of François I, ca. 1900 edition
€ 340
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1900
Mapmaker / artist
After Louis-Marie Lanté (artist) and Georges Jacques Gatine (engraver), Paris, 1827
Technique
Hand-colored engraving (later edition, ca. 1900)
Sheet size
33.5 × 25 cm (13.2 × 9.8 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-13158-66
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
Condition report: Excellent condition with vivid hand-coloring and clear detail. Light toning consistent with age, blank verso, and a well-defined platemark visible in the sheet.
About this sheet
Hand-Colored Engraving of a Lady of the Court of François I, ca. 1900 edition
This elegant hand-colored engraving depicts a lady of the court of King François I of France (reigned 1515–1547), highlighting the grandeur and refinement of French Renaissance court fashion. The sitter is portrayed in a sumptuous red gown richly ornamented with gold trim and a white underskirt, embroidered with geometric motifs and decorated with jewels. The puffed sleeves, slashed to reveal voluminous white silk lining, emphasize the luxury of textiles that characterized early 16th-century aristocratic attire. Around her waist falls a jeweled girdle, completing the image of wealth and refinement.
The portrait belongs to the renowned series Galerie Française de Femmes Célèbres (Paris, 1827), drawn by Louis-Marie Lanté and engraved by Georges Jacques Gatine, which illustrated the costumes and likenesses of celebrated French women and court figures across history. The engraving offered here is a later impression from circa 1900, reflecting the period’s continued fascination with historical costume and French Renaissance splendor.
King François I’s court was a vibrant cultural center, attracting artists like Leonardo da Vinci and supporting the flourishing of Renaissance humanism in France. This engraving captures the elegance of his courtiers, whose fashion mirrored the monarch’s power and the grandeur of his reign.
Condition report: Excellent condition with vivid hand-coloring and clear detail. Light toning consistent with age, blank verso, and a well-defined platemark visible in the sheet.
Framing tips: This work would be beautifully presented in a Renaissance revival gilt frame with a soft cream or ivory mat to complement the warm tones of the gown. Alternatively, a dark wood frame with subtle gold accents will enhance the red of the dress and give a refined, historic appearance.
