This plate features pink background decorated with gilt Fleur de Lys and an interior gilt band. Center depicts a hand-painted portrait of "Mme Elisabeth", signed "Delacroix." Bottom is marked with an underglaze Sevres logo, red over-glaze stamp "Chateau Fontainebleau", and a blue over-glaze stamp. Measures approx. 9-3/8" in diameter.
Élisabeth Philippine Marie Hélène of France (May 3, 1764 - May 10, 1794), commonly called Madame Élisabeth, was a French princess, the daughter of Louis, dauphin de France and Marie-Josèphe of Saxony, and the younger sister of King Louis XVI. Élisabeth was deeply religious and extremely devoted to her brother the king, refusing all offers of marriage so that she might remain by his side. Élisabeth and her brother the Comte d'Artois were among the staunchest conservatives in the royal family. Unlike the Comte, Élisabeth refused to emigrate when the gravity of the events set forth by the Revolution became clear; she was confined in the Tuileries with the king and his family. She accompanied them on their ill-fated escape attempt of June 20, 1791, was arrested at Varennes and returned to Paris with them. She was executed at the age of 30. It is said that when she was strapped to the board, her shawl fell off, exposing her shoulders, and she cried to the executioner "For the sake of decency, Monsieur, cover me up", just as she was guillotined.
100/200 Sold $431.25
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