Portrait of Madame Sophie de France — daughter of Louis XV, king of France — was bought by the Boratynskiy family as a souvenir during their travel to France. In the middle of November 1843, Evgeniy Boratynskiy with his wife and eldest children arrived in Paris. The poet recalled this trip: ‘Dear friends and sisters, I’m in Paris, and I see more than just buildings and boulevards. The people are the most wonderful. They are friendly, smart, cheerful and obedient to the law, which they understand the importance of, all its benefit to the public’.
In France, Boratynskiy quickly made connections with the famous local literary figures: Alfred de Vigny, Prosper Mérimée, Michel Chevalier, Alfonse de Lamartine and many others. I managed to resume acquaintance with countrymen as well. He wrote: “The Russians seek out Russians in Paris and in foreign lands in general”.
During the trip, Boratynskiy translated about twenty of his poems into French. But active literary and secular life eventually bored the poet. He “left Paris with regret, despite the tedious life he led there”.
In early April 1844, the Boratynskiy family left the capital of France. As a souvenir of the beautiful city, they acquired a copy of the portrait of the French princess Sophia of France, taken from the original by the painter Jean-Marc Nattier (1746). This work is done in the technique of art print on canvas.
Jean-Marc Nattier was in many ways an outstanding painter and creator of a new genre in French painting, a historical portrait. He was particularly successful in portraying women. These portraits were distinguished by finely chosen colour, elegant lines and workmanship.
Nattier’s favourite models were the eight daughters of Louis XV, King of France. Among them was Sophia Philippe Elizabeth Justine, depicted in the portrait. She was the sixth of the royal daughters and had a shy, somewhat withdrawn character.
The original portrait is now stored in the Palace of Versailles. To produce the copy, the unknown master used the new technique of the time: art paint on canvas. Therefore, the final result resembles a tapestry rather than a pictorial portrait.
In France, Boratynskiy quickly made connections with the famous local literary figures: Alfred de Vigny, Prosper Mérimée, Michel Chevalier, Alfonse de Lamartine and many others. I managed to resume acquaintance with countrymen as well. He wrote: “The Russians seek out Russians in Paris and in foreign lands in general”.
During the trip, Boratynskiy translated about twenty of his poems into French. But active literary and secular life eventually bored the poet. He “left Paris with regret, despite the tedious life he led there”.
In early April 1844, the Boratynskiy family left the capital of France. As a souvenir of the beautiful city, they acquired a copy of the portrait of the French princess Sophia of France, taken from the original by the painter Jean-Marc Nattier (1746). This work is done in the technique of art print on canvas.
Jean-Marc Nattier was in many ways an outstanding painter and creator of a new genre in French painting, a historical portrait. He was particularly successful in portraying women. These portraits were distinguished by finely chosen colour, elegant lines and workmanship.
Nattier’s favourite models were the eight daughters of Louis XV, King of France. Among them was Sophia Philippe Elizabeth Justine, depicted in the portrait. She was the sixth of the royal daughters and had a shy, somewhat withdrawn character.
The original portrait is now stored in the Palace of Versailles. To produce the copy, the unknown master used the new technique of the time: art paint on canvas. Therefore, the final result resembles a tapestry rather than a pictorial portrait.
