JUEVES, 12 DE FEBRERO DE 2026 
Henry de Triqueti: Art, Intimacy and Legacy
O n 12 February 2026, Ader auction house will auction the collection of Henry de Triqueti, which has been preserved at the Château du Perthuis in the Loiret since the 19th century. This rare ensemble brings together sculptures, drawings, models, archives and personal belongings of Baron Henry de Triqueti (1803–1874) and his daughter Blanche (1837–1886).
More than a mere overview of his work, this sale offers a glimpse into the intimate side of his life, spanning his studio, family sphere and European networks. Long reserved for a circle of connoisseurs, Triqueti’s art is now better recognised, notably since the exhibitions held in Montargis and Orléans in 2007 in collaboration with the Louvre, and later in Montargis in 2022. The sale on 12 February forms part of this rediscovery, revealing works that have remained outside the public eye, yet are essential for a deeper understanding of the artist.
A Collection of Intimacy
Intimacy is the guiding thread of this collection. The works were not assembled to illustrate a career or form a demonstration: they were part of the artist’s life and that of his close circle. Studio models, preparatory drawings, terracottas, marbles, notebooks, correspondence and photographic albums – each piece bears the trace of use, of observation or of attachment.
The drawings, in particular, read like a journal. They reveal the slow development of forms, the persistent revisiting of certain motifs, and a meticulous attention to costumes, gestures and ornamentation. Some ideas appear early, re-emerging years later, shaped by a commission, a journey, or a reading. The studio becomes a place of maturation, far more than a simple space of production.
The drawings, in particular, read like a journal. They reveal the slow development of forms, the persistent revisiting of certain motifs, and a meticulous attention to costumes, gestures and ornamentation. Some ideas appear early, re-emerging years later, shaped by a commission, a journey, or a reading. The studio becomes a place of maturation, far more than a simple space of production.
A Cosmopolitan Artist
Triqueti’s career unfolded on a European scale. Trained and recognised in France, he quickly received major commissions, including the doors of La Madeleine and the tomb of the Duke of Orléans. His work took on a new dimension through his close ties with the British court, earning him the nickname “sculptor of princes”. The grand Windsor project, to which he devoted the last ten years of his life, represents the culmination of this recognition.
Supported by Princess Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, Triqueti developed a highly personal language at the intersection of sculpture, drawing and colour. Through this same Victoria, later Princess of Prussia and future mother of Kaiser Wilhelm II, he also maintained connections with the Hohenzollern court. In a politically tense context, notably during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the collection preserves traces of these relationships, where art, friendship and diplomacy intersect.
Supported by Princess Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, Triqueti developed a highly personal language at the intersection of sculpture, drawing and colour. Through this same Victoria, later Princess of Prussia and future mother of Kaiser Wilhelm II, he also maintained connections with the Hohenzollern court. In a politically tense context, notably during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the collection preserves traces of these relationships, where art, friendship and diplomacy intersect.
Windsor, the Heart of his Career
Wolsey Chapel at Windsor became the focal point of a lifetime of research. For this monumental décor, Triqueti developed a technique which he refined to the utmost: marble tarsia, seeking to unite sculpture and painting on a single surface. The project drew upon his knowledge, his draughtsmanship, and his taste for complex symbolic programmes.
The studies, drawings and models included in the sale allow an intimate insight into this work. They reveal an artist attentive to every detail, experimenting with variants, observing bodies, gestures, and past works before settling on a composition. Windsor thus appears not as an isolated work, but as the culmination of a long artistic journey.
The studies, drawings and models included in the sale allow an intimate insight into this work. They reveal an artist attentive to every detail, experimenting with variants, observing bodies, gestures, and past works before settling on a composition. Windsor thus appears not as an isolated work, but as the culmination of a long artistic journey.
The Women Around Triqueti
Women played a decisive role in the artist’s life. His mother oversaw his education and faith. His daughter Blanche, both worldly and romantic, close to Pierre Loti and Salomon Reinach, extended his paternal legacy. Princess Victoria, herself an artist, was a constant supporter of his work.
Finally, Susan Durant, pupil then collaborator, played a central role during the Windsor years. The sale includes several of Susan Durant’s works, highlighting the important place she held within this artistic network and bringing attention to a significant figure in 19th-century English sculpture.
Finally, Susan Durant, pupil then collaborator, played a central role during the Windsor years. The sale includes several of Susan Durant’s works, highlighting the important place she held within this artistic network and bringing attention to a significant figure in 19th-century English sculpture.
