François CLOUET Tours, before 1520 - Paris, 1572 Portrait... Lot 11

François CLOUET Tours, before 1520 - Paris, 1572 Portrait of François II, King of France Gouache and gold on vellum, oval shape Annotated '25 H / Jannet / (...)' on the back (Wear) Gold plated metal border with rhinestones Portrait of François II, King of France, gouache and gold on vellum, by Fr. Clouet 5,20 x 3,80 cm (2,05 x 1,50 in.) Provenance: Anonymous sale; Paris, Hôtel Drouot, Delorme & Collin du Bocage, December 10, 2010, no. 17 (ascribed to François Clouet) Comment : Miniature portraits by François Clouet are extremely rare. His father Jean Clouet was one of the first artists to produce small portraits painted with great meticulousness on vellum, as for example in the second volume of the 'Commentaires de la guerre gallique' kept in the collections of the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Following in his footsteps, Francis in turn executed precious small portraits on vellum, illustrating the features of illustrious models he had already represented on paper or painted on panels. The portrait of the young François II that we present here is a wonderful example.