165 - Jean-Marie-Amable-Henri SIMON, known as Simon the Younger (1788–1866).

Jean-Marie-Amable-Henri SIMON, known as Simon the Younger (1788–1866). Portrait of Louis-Antoine d’Artois, Dauphin of France, Duke of Angoulême (1775–1844). Preserved in its original case lined with green shagreen, oval in shape and hinged. Good overall condition, with slight scratches. H. 4.5 x W. 3.5 cm. Case: H. 6 x W. 5 cm. History In 1828, Simon received a commission for three carnelian intaglios to be donated to the King’s library, which he delivered directly. At least the first two were gifts: Charles X, entered on June 17, 1829, into the Cabinet of Medals, and the Dauphin, Duke of Angoulême, created as a companion piece to his father’s portrait, “with Gayrard’s medal as a potential reference” (see Bibliography below). The donation is estimated at 4,000 francs, so his annual pension is increased by the King, “as a token of satisfaction for [his] talent in the portrait of His Highness the Dauphin.” The artist subsequently produced several copies on glass—a material frequently used by Simon—which he sold; the glass perfectly imitated the appearance of carnelian and fooled more than a few people. At the 1831 Salon, Simon exhibited three intaglios of Charles X, the Queen, and the Dauphin. Did he have permission to remove a piece from the Royal Cabinet to present it to the public, or was he exhibiting glass copies such as ours? Bibliography HEUZE, Michèle, *Les Simon, une dynastie de graveurs sur médailles*, *Bulletin de la Société de l’histoire de l’art français*, Paris, 2002. Related Works - Portrait of the Dauphin, Duke of Angoulême. Oval intaglio on carnelian, signed Simon F(ecit). Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Cabinet des Médailles et Antiques. - Medal depicting the profile of the Duke of Angoulême, by Gayrard, 1823.