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#285: #285: Transcript

When it comes to Limoges enamels, Suzanne de Court is one of the most intriguing personalities of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Her style is instantly recognizable, characterized by translucent reds, greens, blues highlighted with gold, and it is also the way she depicts mythological figures. Unfortunately, we know very little about Suzanne de Court’s life. We are still trying to determine whether she was connected to the De Court family, one of the great dynasties of enamellers during the Renaissance. What we do know is that she ran a workshop in Limoges. It was not uncommon for a woman to run a workshop at that time, especially after the death of her spouse. In the case of Suzanne de Court, a number of enamels are signed with her initials and sometimes even her full name and the Latin words f. or fecit.

Oval Medallion, Apollo and the Muses

 (French, act. ca. 1600)
Dateca. 1600
MediumLimoges; enamel on copper, parcel-gilt
Dimensions4 1/4 × 3 1/2 in. (10.8 × 8.9 cm)
Credit LineGift of Alexis Gregory, 2021
Accession number2021.4.13
Commentary
This composition representing Apollo and the Muses on Mount Helicon derives from a print by Giorgio Ghisi (15201582) that was made after a drawing by Luca Penni (1500 or 15041557). Flanked by a putto and Pegasus, Apollo is playing his lyre on deep green grass. Two bearded men wearing laurel wreaths, perhaps poets, are gesturing in his direction. Seated at their feet are the Muses: Erato, the Muse of lyric poetry; Calliope, of epic poetry; Thalia, of comedy and pastoral poetry; Urania, of astronomy; Terpsichore, of dance; Melpomene, of tragedy; Euterpe, of music; Clio, of history; and Polyhymnia, of sacred poetry. The group is separated by a river into which the nymph Castalia pours water from a vase.
Collection History
Baron Albert von Goldschmidt- Rothschild (1879–1941), Frankfurt; sale, Hermann Ball and Paul Graupe, Berlin, March 14, 1933 (lot 67); sale, Sotheby's, London, April 21, 1988 (lot 362); private collection, Kapellen, Belgium, until 1995; Jan Dirven Gallery, Antwerp; purchased by Alexis Gregory, 2001; Gift to The Frick Collection, 2021
Black painted enamel dish with Jupiter on a chariot
Attributed to Jean de Court (Master I.C.)
mid 16th century
Black painted enamel dish depicting Saturn on a chariot
Attributed to Jean de Court (Master I.C.)
late 16th century
Painted enamel plaque of Jupiter under a canopy
Jean de Court (Master I.C.)
16th century
A pair of saltcellars made from polychrome enamel
Suzanne de Court
late 16th or early 17th century
A pair of saltcellars made from polychrome enamel
Suzanne de Court
late 16th or early 17th century
Painted enamel saltcellar
Circle of Pierre Reymond
mid 16th century
Black painted enamel ewer
Pierre Reymond
late 16th century
Black painted enamel dish depicting a battle scene of Jason confronting the giants
Pierre Reymond
1567–68
Painted enamel saltcellar
Pierre Reymond
ca. 1545
Black painted enamel covered cup
Pierre Reymond
late 16th century
Black painted enamel covered cup
Pierre Reymond
late 16th century
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