*** Princess Marguerite de Broglie and her cousin Robert








Princess Marguerite de Broglie and her Cousin Robert (France, 1890)

French kilts
Figure 1.--This portrait is of Princess Marguerite de Broglie and her cousin Robert. It was painted in 1890. The artist is Carolus Duran (1837-1917). Marguerite was the daughter of Albert de Broglie, who was a prime minister and a member of the prestigious Broglie family.

This portrait is of Princess Marguerite de Broglie and her cousin Robert. It was painted in 1890. The artist is Carolus Duran (1837-1917). Carolus-Duran was the clasical-styled name French painter Charles Auguste Émile Durand used. Marguerite was the daughter of Albert de Broglie, who was a prime minister. The title of Duc de Broglie was a peerage belonging to a family of Piedmontese (Italian). The family emigrated to France (1643). The founder of the family, François-Marie, was a soldier. He adopted the title of comte de Broglie in France. His grandson, also named François-Marie, was created duc de Broglie and a peer of France (1742). Junior members of the family use the the title prince de Broglie. The genealogical tree including marshals (military commanders), writers, a 'President du Conseil' (Prime Minister) and a Nobel prize-winning scientist. We're not sure about Robert's last name. He wears a black velvet jacket and contrasting vest (waistcoat) with what looks like a kilt skirt. I think it has a tartan patter, but it is a little hard to tell. He has a small lace collar which is shaped like an Eton collar. Princess Marguerite wears a blue velvet dress. The children are clearly European. An American boy would have never worn three-quarter socks like this, but always long stockings. Robet has long,but uncurled hair.

Carolus-Duran (1837-1917)

Charles Auguste Émile Durand took the name Carolus-Duran as it seemed more stylish for his high spciety clientele. Carolus-Duran was born in Lille (1837). He studied at the provincial Lille Academy and then at then at the the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Like other painters, he traveled to Italy to study the great msters (1861). He also went to Spain where he ws memerized with Velázquez. The dramatic "Murdered/Assassination" was one of his first real (1866). Most of his work is portraits. He is primarily renmembered for his beautuifully rendered, stilized portraits of the members of the high society duruing the French Third Republic. This included a few children and family groupings. He was called “The Prince of Color” by another Third Republic artist Toulouse-Lautrec. His portraits have been described as a mixture of French high-society and Spanish realism. His studio was one of the most popular in Paris and there he trained some of the most important rising artists of the next generation, among them the American John Singer Sargent. Sargent followed his mentor Duran in painting high scociety portraits and most believe surpassed him. The best portrait of Duran is painted by Sargent. Duran was one of the most respected academic artists of the era, but as this was also the period in which impressionism rose, he is not as well known today as he was in France during his life time. He painted his clients in aealistic, albeit styilized way. Informally he experimented more. He was elected a commander of the Legion of Honour (1889). He helped created the Société Nationale des Beaux Arts (1890). He entered the Académie des Beaux-Arts (1904).

The Portrait

This portrait is of Princess Marguerite de Broglie and her cousin Robert. It was painted in 1890. It is a large formt composition. There appear to be rose petals on the floor, I'm not sure of the significance of this. It isarther unusual composition. The childrebn seem to take no notice of each other, almost as if they were strangers. Marguerite is very perky, looking right at the rtist. Robert on the other hand seems disengaged. He is not haughty, but seems to be deep in thought. It is as if he can not be bothered by the artist. The museum caption reads, "Emile-Auguste Carolus-Duran (1837-1917). Marguerite et Robert de Broglie. Ce beau portrait de deux petits princes de la famille de Broglie est exemplaire de ce métier large et facile, vigoureux et séduisant qui ne se démentit jamais au cours de sa carrière. Donation François-Gérard Séligmann (2000)." That translates like something like, "Emile-Auguste Carolus-Duran (1837-1917) Marguerite and Robert de Broglie. This beautiful portrait of two small princes of the family of Broglie is an exemple of this trade broad and easy, vigorous and tempting which was never contradicted during his career. Donation François-Gerard Séligmann (2000)." "

Marguerite and Robert

Marguerite was the daughter of Albert de Broglie, who was a prime minister. We're not sure about Robert's last name. Marguerite de Broglie is surely (if her name is Broglie) the grand-daughter of Madame de Staël, a great french writer. We are not sure Robert's last name is Broglie. Perhaps, Marguerite is Marguerite d'Harcourt who became Marguerite de Broglie (when she married prince Albert de Broglie). In this case, the boy is named Harcourt. But, in the context I believe that the name of both children is Broglie. They look to be about 5-8 years old.

The Broglie Family

The title of Duc de Broglie was a peerage belonging to a family of Piedmontese (Italian). The family emigrated to France (1643). The founder of the family, François-Marie, was a soldier. He adopted the title of comte de Broglie in France. His grandson, also named François-Marie, was created duc de Broglie and a peer of France (1742). Junior members of the family use the the title prince de Broglie. The genealogical tree including marshals (military commanders), writers, a 'President du Conseil' (Prime Minister) and a Nobel prize-winning scientist.

Children's Clothing

Robert de Broglie here in 1890 wears a black velvet jacket and contrasting vest (waistcoat), I am not sure if there is a pattern. He also wears what looks like a kilt skirt. I think it has a tartan patter, but it is a little hard to tell. I don't think kilts were very common in France, but amng wealthy families, apparently some boys wore them. A French reader tells us, "When I return to Carnavalet, I will look at this question. The painting is very big and I will be able to make out more detail than the small image here. I believe, that Robert is wearing a kilt." Our reader has provided te detailed image here (figure 1). And t show that he indeed was wearing a kilt. Unfortunately wecan't make out much detail, but it is clearly akilt. Robert alo has a small lace collar which is shaped like an Eton collarwith matching wrist trim. Princess Marguerite wears a blue velvet dress with lace trim at the neckline. The children are clearly European. An American boy would have never worn three-quarter socks like this, but always long stockings.

Hair Styles

Robet has long,but uncurled hair. Marguerite also wears long hair, in her case with a hair bow. Robert has shoulder-length hair, but Marguerite's hair extends well beyond her shoulders.







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Created: 4:13 AM 12/29/2007
Last edited: 10:18 PM 2/9/2023