Charles BECHON (1732-1812) Lot n° 161

Portrait of the URBANOWSKY family (Warsaw, 1786) Large octagonal miniature, pasted on a gray paper background signed and dated lower left C. Bechon Pinx(it). Warso(w). 1786. Good condition. In its original gilded wooden frame, inscribed on the back in Polish by Boleslaw STARZYNSKI: Izabella Starzynska/Family of my great-grandparents, from the wife born Urbanowski of my grandfather Ludwik Starzynski, Salomea Potocka, whose mother was born Urbanowska. Height: 10 cm - Width: 12,3 cm Frame: Height: 23 cm - Length: 25 cm History: Are represented in particular the count Ludwik STARZYNSKI (1760-?), husband of Salomea FOX-POTOCKA (1770-?), his son Edouard STARZYNSKI (1807- 1864), and probably Count Christophe URBANOWSKI (?-1830) or Count Tadeusz Antoni MOSTOWSKI (1766-1842). The bust on the table is that of Franciszek Salezy POTOCKI (1700-1772), from whom they are descended. Provenance : Izabella STARZYNSKA (1804-1897), born Countess MOSTOWSKA, wife of Edouard STARZYNSKI (1807-1864). To his son the count Boleslaw STARZYNSKI (1834-1917), historian born in Poland and established in Paris. Bequeathed by the latter to his cousin Joseph Marie Clément de NICOD DE NEUVILLE, count of MAUGNY (1873-1944) and to his wife Margaretha, called Rita, Jeannette Émilie BUSSE (1882-1937). Then by descent. Related work: Charles BECHON realized another miniature having belonged to the family URBANOWSKI-STARZYNSKI, representing Venus and Cupid, sold at Christie's London, December 13, 2007, lot 531 (collection label n° 427).