The Tansey Miniatures Foundation

Die Miniatur Über den Künstler

The Tansey Miniatures Foundation

DE
The Miniature About the Artist

Marguérite Elisabeth Cognel, née de Cirey

Jean-Baptiste Soyer

The sitter, Marguérite Elisabeth Cognel (1767-1794), probably commissioned this portrait from Soyer in the year of her marriage. She has turned her body to the left but her face is looking directly at the observer. With her left hand she is pointing to a rose sprig – a symbol of love – which is fastened to her lace-trimmed shawl. She is wearing large earrings which seem to be decorated with small glittering stones. Her curly brown wig is adorned with a wreath of blue blossoms that are probably cornflowers. Marguérite Elisabeth de Cirey married Pierre François Cognel (died 1855), an official at the court of Nancy, in 1793. In addition to another portrait showing the lady, Soyer also painted portraits of her husband1 and her sister-in-law Antoinette Louise Marie2.

B. P.

1 Christie’s Geneva, 9 May, 1989, no. 250.
2 Tansey Collection, inv. no. 10690. Antoinette Louise Marie Cognel (1761-1856) was Pierre François’ sister and later married François Plassiart, a councillor at the court of Nancy.