The Tansey Miniatures Foundation

Die Miniatur Über den Künstler

The Tansey Miniatures Foundation

DE
The Miniature About the Artist

Lady with Red Cape on Blue Sofa

Suzanne L'Huillier, later Mme Perregaux

The Swiss miniaturist Suzanne L’Huillier attached great importance to the sensitive representation of a sitter based on accurate observation. In this portrait the lady’s large, expressive eyes gleam in the light and look gently at the observer. Clear colours and a remarkable combination of blue, white and red characterise the picture. Since L’Huillier also worked for French patrons this choice of colours may be an allusion to a pro-Revolutionary attitude of the sitter or the patron of this miniature.1

D. O./J. S. O.

1 The miniature was created in the period after Napoleon was deposed, when the Bourbonic rule and parts of the Ancien Régime were re-established. Part of this political change was the endeavour to re-establish the white flag from the pre-Revolutionary period as the national flag. The bourgeoisie, however, insisted on keeping the tricouleur, which was inspired by the blue, white and red Cocarde of Paris and had become a symbol of the Revolution. See also the famous painting by Eugène Delacroix entitled “Liberty Leading the People” showing the rebellion on 28 July, 1830.