In an unknown lady in the portrait of the late XVIII century, recognized the famous French spy, the Chevalier d'Eona who has lived half his life in the form of Mademoiselle de Beaumont

THOMAS STEWART
Chevalier d'Eona portrait (Mademoiselle de Beaumont). 1792
Source: telegraph.co.uk

leading British expert on Old Master paintings Mauld Philip (Philip Mould) once again showed his remarkable insight (the previous findings Maulda - here ). In an unknown lady in the portrait of the late XVIII century, he saw the famous French spy, the Chevalier d'Eona who has lived half his life in the form of Mademoiselle de Beaumont.

This work has appeared at auction in New York last November as the end of XVIII century painting by American artist brush Gilbert Stuart (Gilbert Stuart), entitled "Portrait of a lady in a hat with a feather».

However, there was Philip Maulda different version attribution. He believes that he wrote the canvas British artist Stuart Thomas (Thomas Stewart), who specialized in the image of actors and theater scenes. A model for the portrait - no one other than the famous Chevalier d'Eon in female guise. Portrait of Mademoiselle de Beaumont brush Thomas Stewart was considered lost since 1926.

received from the French king's right to wear women's clothes, d'Eon to update your wardrobe does not skimp, however, according to the testimony contemporaries, it was a pretty big man with a light stubble, ratcheted up the skirt when climbing stairs.

portrait was painted in the 1790s, when an impoverished d'Eon then has finally gone over to the image Mademoiselle de Beaumont, moved to England. At that time he was in a woman's way of fencing in theatrical productions. During one of these in 1796, he was mortally wounded.

Rather, the portrait was made by Stuart d'Eona commissioned by the Irish playwright and soldier Count Moira (Earl of Moira), in whose family kept the picture until 1850. Then the picture was donated by a former doctor of George III; heirs of doctors, in turn, in the early twentieth century, the portrait was sold to America. At some time next picture was lost. Finally, at the November sale of a New York auction house put up a portrait of Ruth Stone (Ruth Stone), daughter of Samuel Klein - founder of Klein's department store in New York.

painting by Thomas Stewart is set to the During this week in the gallery of Philippe Maulda on Dover Street in London. The dealer says that the portrait really interested in the National Portrait Gallery. In the case of buying the work will be the first portrait of a transvestite in a museum collection. Besides, this is the only known portrait of the Chevalier d'Eona oil.

Prepared by Mary Onuchina, AI

Source: artinvestment.ru