Offered by Franck Baptiste Provence
Very important portrait (170 cm) representing Philippe D'Orléans (1674-1723) half-length, in armor, brandishing his baton of command with one hand while the other rests on his helmet.
The Regent of the Kingdom of France poses here as a war leader in front of a battle scene taking place during the siege of Hondarribia in 1719.*
His magnificent gleaming breastplate is studded with fleur-de-lys, just like his staff of command.
It is crossed with the blue cord of the Holy Spirit and the white sash of military command.
The latter in white silk hemmed with gold is tied around her waist and falls in large sections.
The Regent also wears a lace jabot around his neck and is wearing a large curly, powdered wig, one of the braids of which falls on his bib.
His face and serene look seem to indicate to us the victorious outcome of the battle.
Oil on canvas.
Good state of conservation, relining and small usual restorations.
Frame in wood and gilded stucco from the mid-19th century.
French school, most certainly workshop of Jean Ranc, circa 1719-1720.
Dimensions:
Frame: Height: 170 cm; Width: 136 cm
Canvas: Height: 140 cm; 112cm
Our opinion :
The posture of our painting with a soldier posing in front of a battle scene and holding a command staff in one hand while the other hand rests on his helmet is an invention of Hyacinthe Rigaud.
Indeed it seems to find its source in a portrait of the Grand Dauphin produced in 1697 by the Catalan master, with the participation of his student Joseph Parrocel for the battle scene.
Due to its iconography "as a war leader working for the kingdom" this successful posture will then be used on numerous occasions by Rigaud's workshop, notably for the portraits of the Dukes of Evreux and Chaulnes, of Vauban...
The regent seems to have preferred Jean Baptiste Santerre to create his official portrait, of which we know of a multitude of studio copies.
In our work Philippe D'Orleans is represented older and more plump than in his official portrait, in particular because of the dissolute life he led in Versailles, between parties and orgies.
Above all, it is represented during a battle, which directs us towards the siege of Hondarribia, the only major military action carried out by France during this period of peace and prosperity that was the Regency.
Jean Baptiste Santerre having died two before this siege, it was Jean Ranc who was enlisted to work on French military propaganda.
This fact is confirmed by a precious engraving from 1719 by Nicolas Edelinck with the mention "I.Ranc pin" which represents an equestrian portrait of the Regent in front of his troops, the original of which is not located to this day.
The iconography used by Jean Ranc on this portrait is identical to that of our painting, same double chin, same braid that falls on the cord, same knot for the frill.... same date of 1719 which corresponds to the seat of the city of Hondarribia.
It is therefore obvious that our composition is a creation of the Montpellier painter.
This fact is reinforced by the typology of the military posture that Jean Ranc knew perfectly since he was an apprentice in Rigaud's workshop during its development.
It is therefore clearly established that our artist created two works representing the Regent during his military campaign against Spain but it is quite curious that many copies have not reached us.
Several hypotheses can explain this fact, such as the departure of Jean Ranc for Spain in 1722 or the premature death of the Regent in 1723.
But it is possible that it was simply the definitive reconciliation with the Spanish crown in 1720 which stopped this production, symbolizing the disagreement between the two kingdoms, for diplomatic reasons.
The large format of our painting, its finesse and its unique character make it a particularly rare and precious work.
*Siege of Hondarribia
On January 9, 1719, France declared war on Spain. The conflict arose from the personal rivalry between King Philip V of Spain, grandson of Louis XIV, and the Regent of France Philippe d'Orléans. The pretext is provided by the claims of the King of Spain to the throne of France and a planned attack against the person of the Regent.
A French army crossed the Bidasoa in the spring under the command of Marshal Jacques de Berwick, natural son of King James II Stuart. She laid siege to Hondarribia, opposite Hendaye, and took the city on June 17. In the fall, the English landed in Galicia while the United Provinces in turn declared war on Spain.
In the fall, the English landed in Galicia while the United Provinces in turn declared war on Spain.
Philip V resolves to negotiate. The allies first demand the ousting of its Prime Minister, Cardinal Alberoni. This was done on December 9, 1719. Philip V dismissed him and he had to flee to Italy. Peace was signed in The Hague on February 20, 1720. The King of Spain formally renounced the crown of France...
Jean Ranc (Montpellier 1674 - Madrid 1735), is a painter who was made an academician in 1703.
A brilliant student of Hyacinthe Rigaud and portraitist of the Regent and the Parisian elite for nearly 26 years, he was sent to the Spanish court to become the official painter of the royal family.
For more than a decade he will delight the nephew of Louis XIV, who became king of Spain under the name of Philippe V.
