The Wallace Collection | Meet the Expert Henri III, King of France by Jean Decourt.

Each month, A member of the curatorial department at The Wallace Collection explores their specialist areas of the collection.

In the March instalment of 'Meet the Expert', Suzanne Higgot, the Curator of Glass, Limoges Painted enamels, Earthenware and Early Furniture, explores two enamel plates which were painted and made in Limoges, France between 1585-1600, along with depictions of Marguerite de France by Jean de Court.

Jean de Court was from Limonge and became the official court painter to Henri III of France (Fig.1, previously with Philip Mould & Company). The two plates were originally part of a set and were acquired together in 1871 by Sir Richard Wallace, one of the founders of The Wallace Collection, and the enamel of Marguerite de France dates to 1585 and is in The Wallace Collection.

Watch and learn with Suzanne Higgot here.

Fig 1. Jean Decourt (De Court), Henri III, King of France, Bodycolour highlighted with gold on vellum, 1578.