Charles of Baden

Emmanuel de La Celle, Chevalier de Châteaubourg was one of those artists who had neither regular employment as a court painter nor a workshop or school.¹ The multitude of exhibitions organised by various European academies in which he is known to have taken part suggests that he moved from place to place. His clients belonged to the European aristocracy. This child portrait of the later Grand Duke of Baden (1786-1818)² is one of his early works. Although the boy is decorated with a medal³ which shows him to be a member of the nobility, the presentation concentrates on the childlike and innocent aspects of his appearance. The intimate connection between the prince and his dog contributes to this impression (thus supporting the painter’s intention) as do the style of painting and the colours: the park, slightly intimated in the background, is kept in soft blue shades which correspond with the prince’s jacket. The eye-catching aspect of this miniature is the face which almost seems to shine. The various parts of the face are modelled in tender rose and brown shades. By using single, exceptionally delicate strokes and golden colour, the artist adds a light reflex to the child’s fair curls which makes the hair seem to gleam in the light.

D. O.