Circle of Claude Corneille de Lyon,
 
Dutch / French 1500-1575-
 
Portrait...

Circle of Claude Corneille de Lyon,

Dutch / French 1500-1575-

Portrait of King Francis I of France, bust-length, wearing a feathered cap and gold chain around his neck;

oil on panel, bears two wax seals on the reverse, bears old labels attached to the reverse of the black mount and frame, the former inscribed 'Corneille (Claude), Ecole francaise XVI siecle. Histoire Etabli à Lyon ou il mourit. Peintre des rois François Iier, Henry II, François II et Charles IX. (Liret, page 104)'., 16.8 x 14 cm.

Provenance:

Rouen, 1885.;

Where purchased by the family of Sir John Hay Williams (1794-1859), 2nd Baronet of Bodelwyddan, and of Rhianva, Anglesey, June 1859.;

By descent to the present owner.

Literature:

Catalogue of Pictures, Rhianva, p.12 (which mentions the Rouen provenance and date).

Note:

The subject, format, and technique, in particular the minute brushstrokes and subtle modulation of light in the present work are entirely reminiscent of the handling of Corneille de Lyons portraits. Cast on to the deep green background, that has become synonymous with Corneilles art, the shadows of both the sitter and the frame are delicately rendered. The artist produced a large number of aristocratic and royal portraits which were often copied due to the illustrious identity of their sitters. The present work is presumably a contemporary copy of a lost original by Corneille or a period work heavily inspired by the master painter. It is also reminiscent of those by Joos van Cleve see, for example, his c.1530 portrait of Francis I, held by the UKs Royal Collection Trust [RCIN 403433].