"Portrait of Henrietta Marie Queen of Charles 1st, taken from a picture that was copied from ______________ by ____ Letitia. ____________. March 4th 1828". That is hand-written on paper backing to this large wafer portrait miniature. Henrietta Maria was Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland from her marriage to King Charles I on 13 June 1625 until Charles was executed on 30 January 1649. She was mother of his two immediate successors, Charles II and James II and VII. She was born in 1609 at Louvre Palace, Paris, and was daughter of French Queen Marie d' Medici. This painting is a creative work on its own, visibly after the portrait original by Anthony van Dyck, (which is in the collection of Royal Collection Trust). As portrait miniatures go, this is a very large wafer at 8 1/2" x 6 1/2", matted with a period eglomise mat (back-painted glass) and still in the original frame. Displays beautifully, with all its age, even though you can see it is not perfect. Full measurements noted on photos.
Very good condition for age and type, a beautiful painting in gouache or watercolor on large natural wafer. Original frame and eglomise mat/cover glass, the painting is beautiful in spite of showing 2 hairlines (marked with 'x' on photo. Stable, they are visible from certain angles and not from other angles, so she displays very well. The very old frame is heavy wood with a gesso or plaster coating and gilded. You see 4 spots where the surface of the frame is chipped (marked with x on photos). Acquired long ago from an estate out of Germany, this item is nearly 200 years old.
