print
- Museum number
- 1873,0809.367
- Title
- Object: The Dutchess of C. coming out of the Cavern
- Description
-
The Duchess of C--- freed from the dungeon in which her husband has imprisoned her, moves to the right to embrace her daughter while her father approaches from left with outstretched arms and her rescuer, Count Belmire, wearing slashed hose and a plumed hat, stands behind her to right; with two other women and two soldiers in the background to left; in an oval; after Rigaud. 1790
Stipple and etching
- Production date
- 1790
- Dimensions
-
Height: 352 millimetres
-
Width: 428 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- This is one of four prints (two published in 1787 by Torre & Co; another pair in 1790 by Colnaghi) derived from John Francis Rigaud oil on copper paintings inspired by Genlis' Gothic novel. She originally published the first-person narrative from the wronged Duchess's viewpoint as a section in her 1782 novel 'Adèle et Théodore ou lettres sur l'éducation'. It was subsequently published as an independent work, 'Histoire de La Duchesse de C----', the following year and was translated into English by the early 1800s ('The true and affecting history of the Duchess of C--- who was confined by her husband in a dismal dungeon').
Genlis' novel recounts how the narrator, a young and wealthy Roman noblewoman, falls in love with a Neapolitan aristocrat of her own age, Count Belmire, who declares his love for her at a masked ball just before he leaves Rome for six months. While he is away the narrator's father marries her off to the older Duke of C----- and in time she gives birth to their daughter. Discovering the Duchess's passion for another man (but unware that it is his nephew Count Belmire as she refuses to give up his name) the Duke simulates her death and imprisons her for nine years in a cavern dungeon under his castle outside of Naples. She is eventually rescued by the Count Belmire after the death of the Duke, and is joyfully reunited with her parents and daughter. The story ends with the Duchess C---- marrying off her fifteen-year-old daughter to the Count, and her retiring to Nice.
The four Rigaud paintings begin with the Count declaring his love at the ball; the Duchess's rescue from imprisonment by the Count; her reunion with her daughter and parents; and her offering the Count to marry her daughter. Two of the related paintings are known: one related to the present composition, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1788 (no. 151), which was sold at Sotheby's, New York, 12 Feb 1998 and the scene at the ball offered at Sotheby's 8 April 1992.
The four prints after them are: 'The Duchess of C---- at the Masquerade' by James Hogg published Torre & Co in 1787 (3 BM impressions Nn,7.4-6) and its pendant 'The Dutchess C---- Deliverance' by Pietro Bettelini (proof before letters, 1876,0708.2614, before title Nn,7.3 and 1917,1208.993 and finished state 2003,1031.6). The 1790 pair published by Molteno, Colnaghi & Co are the present print and 'The Dutchess of C giving her daughter to Count Belmire' by Gaetano Testolini (1873,0809.368).
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Histoire de La Duchesse de C----
- Acquisition date
- 1873
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1873,0809.367
