This comprehensive book brings to light the portraits, private collections and public patronage of the princesse de Lamballe, a pivotal member of Marie-Antoinette’s inner circle. Drawing extensively on unpublished archival sources, Sarah Grant examines the princess’s many portrait commissions and the rich character of her private collections, which included works by some of the period’s leading artists and artisans. The book sheds new light on the agency, sorority and taste of Marie-Antoinette and her friends, a group of female patrons and model of courtly collecting that would be extinguished by the coming revolution.

Sarah Grant is Curator, Prints, at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

Sommaire :
Introduction
Chapter 1 : From wife to widow : early portraits of the princesse de Lamballe
Chapter 2 : Paying court : careerism, sentiment and sorority in portraits of the princesse de Lamballe
Chapter 3 : The Anglophile princesse de Lamballe : portraits, prints, gardens and Anglomania at the court of Marie-Antoinette
Chapter 4 : ’Protector of the Fine Arts’ : the private collection and public patronage of the princesse de Lamballe, a courtier-collector
Chapter 5 : Epilogue
Bibliography
Index

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