Literature

This model is traditionally stated to have been designed to celebrate Louis XV’s outright purchase of the Sèvres factory in 1759. It was accompanied by a matching bust of Queen Marie Leczinska. 14 busts of the king and queen are mentioned in the biscuit kiln records on 24 September 1759. Several were sold set on tapering Sèvres porcelain pedestals decorated with a ground colour and gilding. Examples of these are known in collections today, including a blue and green pedestal painted by Dodin, in the British Museum, and a green and gold one in The Frick Collection [1990.9.52].

Many of the early examples were bought by the marchand-mercier Simon-Philippe Poirier, including a pair he sold on to Claude Bonnet, the Paris agent of the Court of Parma, which was ruled over by Louis XV’s eldest daughter Louise-Elisabeth and her husband Philip, Duke of Parma.