Claude Deruet

Le tableau se présente dans un état de conservation relativement satisfaisant. Il est sous un vernis ancien. Il a fait l'objet d'un réentoilage dans la seconde moitié du XXe siècle, un peu fort, qui a tassé la matière. L'armoirie dans le coin supérieur droit a été ajoutée ultérieurement et non terminée. A la lampe UV : sous un vernis vert uniforme. Une restauration dans le drapé rouge au niveau des plis et surtout dans le coin supérieur droit. Il y a des restaurations dans le paysage et dans le ciel sous le drapé rouge à gauche. Restauration dans le bas au niveau de la crinière et entre les deux pattes. The painting is in a reasonnably good overall condition. It is under an old varnish. It has been relined in the second half of the 20th century, in a bit strong way that flattened a bit the painted surface. The heraldry in the upper right corner has been added after the picture was made and was not entirely finished. Under the UVlight : painting under a green even varnish. There is a restoration in the red drapery and in the upper right corner. There are some restoration in the landscape and the sky and under the red drapery on the left. Restoration in the horse hair and in between its leg.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Being a romantic and unpredictable figure, the Duke of Lorraine Charles IV allied himself with England and the Habsburgs against France, plotted with the Grand Conde against Louis XIV during the Fronde, before being captured by the Spaniards and then freed thanks to the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. The ducal crown on the upper right of our painting and the title mentioned on the frame indicates a date later than 1625, when Charles IV became Duke.
Claude Deruet, who was in charge of artistic direction at the Lorraine court on his return from Italy in 1620, repeatedly portrayed his patron depicted here, as well as several great regional military figures, such as Maximilian II of Bethune and Gaspard de Rieux. Of similar compositions, his portraits present an escutcheon, a large vermilion curtain, and flags of the same color framing the composition. On the ground are accumulated weapons belonging to the subject, as well as various objects such as the trumpets of Fame, like in the portrait of the heroin from the Thirty Years' War, Madame de Saint-Blasmont (1646), in the collections of Dukes’ Palace in the Lorraine Museum, Nancy, France.