Lot 21: Jacques-Antoine Arlaud (Swiss, 1668-1746)

Louis, Grand Dauphin of France (1661-1711), wearing armour with brass studs, a red ribbon on his shoulder, white Venetian lace cravat held with a blue bow, lightly powdered curled hair
watercolour on vellum, put down on playing card (two of spades), signed, dated and inscribed on reverse, Jacobus/ Antonius Arlaud/ pinxit Genevæ/ 1687, original fishskin case with brass piqué work
Oval, 57mm. (2 1/4ins.) high

Louis of Bourbon, known as the 'Grand Dauphin', was the son of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Habsburg. In 1680, he married Anna Maria of Bavaria. He was given command of armies in the Rhine campaign (1688) and in Flanders (1693) in the War of League of Augsburg and aided Villars in the War of Spanish Succession (1709-10).
In 1679, he married Marie Christine of Bavaria. He fathered three children Louis, duc de Bourgogne (1682-1712) (the father of Louis XV); Philip V of Spain (1683-1746) and Charles, duc de Berry (1684-1714).
Louis died of smallpox in 1711, aged fifty. His son and heir, the crippled Duc de Bourgogne, died one year later, and the throne was inherited by his infant grandson Louis (XV) in 1715. His aunt, Elisabeth Charlotte of the Palatine, Duchess of Orleans gave the following account : "It is impossible to describe the Grand Dauphin. He feared nothing more in this world than to become king, not so much out of tendresse towards his father, than out of dread to rule; he was frightfully lazy, could sit the whole long day on a bed or chaise à bras, tap a cane against his shoes and utter not a single word; never in his life would he offer his opinion on anything, but if he happened to talk once in a year, he spoke well and in noble terms"
The young Arlaud is known to have shown precocious signs of great talent and the present lot, painted by him at the age of nineteen, bears this out. Sources describe him as having started his career as a miniaturist in 1688, the year he left Geneva for Paris. This makes the present lot an important addition to his body of known work, having been painted before his arrival in France. It is probable that a commission, such as the present lot, would have afforded the young Arlaud an introduction to noble and royal clientele upon his arrival in Paris. Here he enjoyed a successful career, becoming Painter to Philippe II, Duc d'Orléans, Prince Regent. He left for London in 1721, before returning to Geneva in 1729.