Madame de Grignan

Description Françoise-Marguerite de Sévigné, Comtesse de Grignan (1646-1705) was a French aristocrat and famous beauty, who is chiefly remembered for the letters that her mother, Madame de Sévigne, wrote to her. This miniature and its 17th century style gilt metal frame date from the 19th century. The portrait was copied from a work by Jean Petitot, the well known French-Swiss enamel painter. The same image appears on a gold snuffbox in the museum's collection (57.234). Reverse covered with green leather with a metal prop for standing upright in the form of a corinthian column.

Provenance William T. or Henry Walters, before 1931 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Credit Acquired by William T. or Henry Walters