A PAIR OF NAPOLEON III ORMOLU-MOUNTED PORCELAIN JARDINIERES

Jean-Charles Develly (1783-1862) was one of the most prolific and creative artists at the Sèvres factory and a very gifted painter. His masterpieces include a coffer made by Sèvres in 1838; the sides set with plaques painted with scenes commemorating the marriage of the duc d'Orléans to the princesse Hélène de Meklembourg-Schwerin (Château de Fontainebleau inv. F931C) and the Service des arts industriels; a dessert service with scenes conceived and painted by Develly showing the progress of technology through its application to different tasks.

The present pair of vases are finely painted with hunting scenes in parkland. Four châteaux are shown, of which the Château de Chambord and Château de Meudon can be identified. The painting is consistent with Develly's style in later life: compare a biscuit porcelain plaque in the Louvre painted by Develly in 1839 with a scene of stags in the parkland at Château de Rosny-sur-Seine (Musée du Louvre inv. OA11314) and a pair of plaques dated 1844 painted with with a stag hunt, one possibly in the park of the Château de Saint-Cloud, offered Christie's, New York, 24 November 2009, lot 250.