Pair of Louis XIV marines, attributed to Claude Joseph Vernet (Avignon, 1714 – Paris, 1789), and frames in gilt bronze attributed to Nicolas Delaunay (1646-1727), from the collection of Sir Thomas Hughes Neave (1874-1940), 5th Baronet; then of his wife, Lady Dorina Lockhart Neave (1880-1955), born Clifton, in Dagnam Park, Essex, UK.
Marine A: “The Storm: fisherman shipwrecked on the shore”
Oil on silver leaf glued on wood: H. 9.1 cm. (3 ½ in.); W. 11.4 cm. (4 ½ in.).
Gilt bronze frame: Total H. with ring: H. 23.8 cm. (9 ½ in.); H. 20.5 cm. (8 in.); W. 22.3 cm. (8 ¾ in.).
Number and date handwritten in black ink visible on the reverse of the panel: N° 3 (?) / 14 mars 1815 (?)
MARKS AND INSCRIPTIONS: Vernet pinxit, old mention handwritten in black ink visible on the reverse of the frame/Kenelm Digby Neave/1940, handwritten mentions very finely engraved on the reverse of the frame (perhaps the trace left by a handwritten label stuck on the reverse of the frame and now lost).
Marine B: “Fishermen at sunset”
Oil on gold leaf glued on wood: H. 9 cm. (3 ½ n.); W. 11.4 cm. (4 ½ in.).
Gilt bronze frame: Total H. with ring: H. 23.6 cm. (9 ¼ in.); H. 20.4 cm. (8 in.); W. 22.2 cm. (8 ¾ in.).
Number in black ink visible on the reverse of the panel: N° 3 (?).
MARKS AND INSCRIPTIONS: For F. C N j / F N (?)/Vernet pinxit, old mentions handwritten in black ink visible on the reverse of the frame; property of Kenelm […]/Presented by his mother/Dorina Lady Neave in 1940, handwritten mentions very finely engraved on the reverse of the frame (perhaps the trace left by a handwritten label stuck on the reverse of the frame and now lost).
PROVENANCE: very likely collection f Sir Richard Neave (1731-1814), 1st Baronet, in Dagnam Park, Essex, or of his eldest son, Sir Thomas Neave (1761-1848), 2nd Baronet; then his descendants; collection of Sir Thomas Hughes Neave (1874-1940), 5th Bt; collection of his wife, Lady Dorina Lockhart Neave (1880-1955), née Clifton; then collection of their Kenelm Digby Neave (1921-2007).
LITERATURE: John Grant (ed.), Essex Historical Biographical and Pictorial, London, 1914, published by “The London And Provincial Publishing Co, Ltd”, p. 412-414.
Born in 1646, Nicolas Delaunay was, along with Claude Ballin the Elder (1615-1678) and his nephew Claude Ballin the Younger (1660-1754), among the most famous goldsmiths of Louis XIV’s reign and belonged to the main suppliers to the Crown. Delaunay had his mastership registered on 10th October 1772. In 1714 Louis XIV entrusted him with the task of executing his gold crockery. On 22nd November 1696, he was appointed “director of the balanciers of the Louvre palace for the manufacture of gold, silver and copper medals and tokens, general controller and warden of the manufacture of medals and tokens”. To that position was added the ennobling duty of Secretary to the King. Nicolas Delaunay died in Paris in 1727.
