After Louis-Marie Lanté, Margaret of Flanders, Duchess of Brittany Illustration, 1900, Engraving

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Hand-Colored Portrait of Marguerite de Flandre, Duchesse de Bretagne (after 1827, ca. 1900 edition) An elegant hand-colored engraving of Marguerite … Read more Hand-Colored Portrait of Marguerite de Flandre, Duchesse de Bretagne (after 1827, ca. 1900 edition) An elegant hand-colored engraving of Marguerite de Flandre (d. 1384), wife of Jean de Montfort, Duke of Brittany, presented here in the elaborate court fashion of the mid-14th century. She is depicted wearing a flowing deep blue gown trimmed with fur, over a rich rose-colored underdress, fastened at the waist with a red girdle. Her attire is completed by the dramatic tall black hennin, the pointed headdress that became an emblem of noble status during this period, with a long veil cascading from its tip. Marguerite was born into the powerful House of Dampierre in Flanders and married Jean de Montfort, whose claim to the Duchy of Brittany drew him into the Breton War of Succession (1341–1364), a key episode within the larger conflict of the Hundred Years’ War. As Duchess, Marguerite de Flandre was both witness and participant to one of the most turbulent political periods in France’s medieval history. This print originates from the series Galerie Française de Femmes Célèbres, first issued in Paris in 1827, with designs by Louis-Marie Lanté and engraving by Georges Jacques Gatine. The example shown here is from the ca. 1900 reissue of the plates, finely hand-colored and capturing the sumptuous textures of noble costume with clarity and elegance. Condition report: Very good. Clean sheet with strong hand-coloring in blue and rose, light age-toning at the edges. Wide margins preserved. Blank verso. Framing tips: For best presentation, use a cream or light ivory mount to highlight the freshness of the colors. A gilt frame will bring out the noble aspect of the subject, while a dark wood frame creates a more dramatic effect. Consider double matting with a thin burgundy or royal blue line to echo the tones of the dress. Technique: Hand-colored engraving (later impression, ca. 1900) Maker: After Louis-Marie Lanté (artist) and Georges Jacques Gatine (engraver), Paris, 1827 See less