Portrait of Henri Charles de Beaumanoir, Marquis de Lavardin

Probably commissioned by the sitter, Henri-Charles de Beaumanoir (1643–1701), by 1701;

Michel (1819–1904) and Amélie Marie Céleste (1831–1915) Heine, Paris, by 1905 [1];

With Jacques Seligmann and Company, Paris, by 1905 [2];

Purchased from Seligmann by John Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), London, 1905;

By descent to his son John Pierpont Morgan Jr. (1867–1943), London and New York, March 31, 1913–February 24, 1935;

Purchased from his sale, The Famous Collection of Miniatures of the British and Foreign Schools: The Property of J. Pierpont Morgan, Esq., Christie’s, London, June 24, 1935, lot 92, as The Marquis de Lavardin, by Harry Seal (1873–1948), Ullesthorpe House, Leicestershire, 1935–1949 [3];

Purchased from his posthumous sale, Catalogue of the Choice Collection of Portrait Miniatures, formed by the late Harry Seal, Esq., Christie’s, London, February 16, 1949, lot 86, as Le Marquis de Lavardin, by S.J. Phillips, London, 1949 [4];

Probably purchased from S.J. Phillips by Mr. John W. (1905–2000) and Mrs. Martha Jane (1906–2011) Starr, Kansas City, MO, by 1958 [5];

Their gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1958.

Notes:

[1] The miniature was likely in the Heines’ possession by 1904, as Michel Heine died that year and J.P. Morgan purchased the Heine collection en bloc, via Seligmann, in 1905. Morgan’s purchase of the Heine collection is documented in the J.P. Morgan Jr. Papers (ARC 1216) held in the Archives of The Pierpont Morgan Library, New York, box 143, folder 109.3. A handwritten note inserted in a bound inventory titled “List of Miniatures Owned by Estate of J.P. Morgan” on a page including inventory no. 440, Unknown Artist, Marquis de Lavardin, along with other miniatures from the Heine collection, reads, “Seligman 1905 / Collection of 84 miniatures, gouaches and boxes purchased from / Mme. Michel Heine. / (but some items from “Heine” collec- / tion purchased from others.)” In a different hand, on the same sheet, is written, “nearly all of 84 are miniatures.” The date the Heines acquired the miniature of Lavardin is unknown, but they had miniatures in their collection since at least 1874. Miniatures from the Heine collection were exhibited in Paris in 1883 and 1888.

[2] Refer to note 1 for Seligmann’s role in the sale of this miniature.

[3] The lot is described as “French School, The Marquis de Lavardin, with brown wig, and blue cloak, lace tie. In watercolour. Oval – 1 1/4 (?) x 1 1/2. In gold frame, the reverse enameled in colours with a vase of flowers.”

[4] The lot is described as “Le Marquis de Lavardin (1644–1701), French School. French Ambassador to the Holy See in 1687; three-quarter face to the right, in brown coat and blue cloak, with lace tie and brown wig. Oval – 1 7/8 in. high – in 17th Century gold frame, the reverse enameled in colours with a vase of flowers and signed with the monogram H.B. Illustrated in the Connoisseur, August, 1907, page 207. [. . . ] From the Collection of J. Pierpont Morgan, Esq., 1935, described and illustrated in Dr. G. C. Williamson’s Catalogue, Vol. III, No. 440.”

[5] S.J. Phillips, a London dealer operating since 1896, is still known for their sales of antique jewellery and objects of vertu. The Starrs acquired several miniatures from S.J. Phillips, including F58–60/17 and F58–60/51.