BENZI-BASTERIS Vincenza (1782-1800), attributed to. French w - Lot 344

BENZI-BASTERIS Vincenza (1782-1800), attributed to. French work, Paris, circa 1774-1775. Exceptional round snuffbox, in blond tortoiseshell, decorated on each side with floral motifs in yellow gold, surmounted by undulating waves in rose gold, bordered by a finely chased mounting in relief of garlands of flowers and laurels in yellow gold on a rose gold amati background. The lid is decorated under a curved glass with a portrait painted on ivory, depicting Queen Marie-Antoinette, seated in a three-quarter position in elegant hunting costume, her left arm resting on a table holding her white feathered hat and a riding crop in her right hand, against a blue curtained background, surrounded by a frieze of small fine pearls. Small hair, but overall good condition. Marked: illegible, Paris, 18th century, circa 1774-1775. H. : 3 cm - Diam . 8 cm. Gross weight : 135 g. Reference: this representation of the future Queen of France is similar to the engraving by Audinet, with a slight variation in the position of the head, the draping of the background and the ribbon of the bodice. We also know of another miniature depicting Marie-Antoinette wearing the same outfit, but holding a black hat in her hand, signed Vincenza Benzi-Basteris (1782-1800) and dated 1774, in the Musée du Louvre (inv. RF12221), illustrated in Pierrette Jean-Richard, inventaire des miniature conservées au Cabinet des Dessins, Musées du Louvre et Musée d'Orsay, Paris, 1994, p.52, n°51. Although in the 1877 sale catalog, the expert at the time attributed this miniature to Sicardi (Louis Sicard, dit Sicardi (1743-1825)), today it is more likely to be the work of Vincenza Benzi-Basteris. But it is also interesting to compare our miniature with the one attributed to Benzi-Basteris, depicting the Queen still wearing the same costume, in the collection of Alain Bancel (1927- 2002), auctioned under no. 281, May 21, 2003. Provenance: collection of the Duchesse de Polignac, née Yolande de Polastron (1749-1793). Sale of her collection of miniatures and autographs concerning Marie-Antoinette et la Famille Royale, Drouot, room 6, February 1, 1877, shown under no. 1, since kept in a private French collection. We would like to thank the Forum de Marie-Antoinette for its valuable information.