Photo : DR
As part of a book devoted to Louise de Keralio (1756–1822), currently in press (Oxford), I am searching for the only known portrait of her, painted by Jean-Louis Laneuville (1756–1826) around 1792, which is now lost.
The posthumous sale of the estate of her grandson, Édouard Fétis, at A. & J. Leroy, frères in Brussels in 1909, provides us with the last trace of the painting. Without identifying the subjects, the sale catalogue describes her portrait, accompanied by that of her husband, the conventional François Robert, as follows:
"La Neuville. / E. Fr., 18th century. / Portrait of a man. / A figure with an energetic face, seen from the front. He is wearing a brown coat with brass buttons and a red waistcoat; the collar of his shirt is wide open. / Signed on the right: La Neuville, pupil of David, 1792. / Height: 0.62. Width: 0.51. T.
Portrait of a young woman / Companion piece to the previous portrait. / Costume from the time of the French Republic: long hair with curls falling over her shoulders, under a red madras with black stripes. Dressed in a grey silk dress, slightly open, revealing a white batiste scarf. / Height: 0.62. Width: 0.51. T."
The two paintings were purchased for 510 francs by a Brussels antique dealer, Charles van Hove. A copy of François Robert’s portrait is in the Musée de Versailles; the original has been lost.
If you know of a painting that fits this description (note: the red madras) or if you have any information about this portrait of Louise de Keralio, please contact me at: vmistacco@wellesley.edu
Vicki Mistacco
Professor Emerita of French
Wellesley College