Antique Hand-Colored Engraving – Michelle de Vitry, Widow of Ursins, c.1900

About this sheet

Hand-Colored Engraving of Michelle de Vitry, Widow of Juvenel des Ursins, ca. 1900 edition

This hand-colored engraving represents Michelle de Vitry (d. 1456), widow of Juvenel des Ursins, shown in the dignified attire of a noble widow. She is dressed in a long, flowing black gown trimmed with white, the austerity of her costume emphasizing the gravity and solemnity of widowhood in the 15th century. Her headdress and veil, framing her pale face, reinforce both modesty and status, as befitted women of her rank.

The caption notes that the original portrait was held at Versailles, part of the great collections of French historical figures. The depiction captures the transition of fashion in late medieval France, where ceremonial mourning dress took on a distinctive visual language recognizable across courtly society.

This image was first published in Galerie Française de Femmes Célèbres (Paris, 1827), drawn by Louis-Marie Lanté and engraved by Georges Jacques Gatine. The present impression is from the ca. 1900 reissue, which renewed interest in French costume history and made these portraits more widely available to collectors and historians.

Condition report: Very good condition with fine hand-coloring in black and subtle grey tones. Light toning to the paper consistent with age, with wide margins and blank verso. A well-preserved impression.

Framing tips: Best displayed in a simple black or dark wood frame with a cream or ivory mount to highlight the dark widow’s gown. For added depth, a double mat with a fine grey inner line would accentuate the sobriety and elegance of the figure.

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