Claire Raoul, née Vaillant

The unusual amount of detail that characterises this work by Giulia Corneo allows the lady in this miniature to be identified with certainty. The piece accompanies the miniature of Charles-François Raoul, cat. no.33, and shows his wife, Claire Vaillant. This assumption, initially based on the identification of the husband, is backed up by the initials “CR” located in a tiny medallion in a group of figures in the background.¹ 

A lady is shown sitting at a small desk in a richly decorated interior. A string of pearls entwined in her long, loose hair, the jewellery on her arm and ear, and above all, the slightly translucent, delicately embroidered muslin dress and the position of the graceful hands, demonstrate Corneo’s gift for the precise rendering of details in a manner that made them “speak”. Here, she proves masterful in her use of allusion: the letter that Claire Raoul is writing forms a connection to the miniature of her husband, as it is very obviously addressed to him. This is indicated by the line “il est Doux de s’andretenir de ce que l’on Aime”.² 

A connection with the husband’s miniature is also created by a red curtain placed on the opposite side. When the two works are placed side by side, their relationship becomes even clearer. 

J. S. O.