The second possible owner of the plaque is a figure who was also, in later life, known as Prince Joseph (Michal) Poniatowski (1816-1873). He was the son of Stanislaw Poniatowski and the nephew of the Polish general discussed above, Prince Josef Anton Poniatowski. He was born out of wedlock but he was legitimated as a son of Stanisław Poniatowski in 1847 and he was awarded the title Prince Poniatowski by the Austrian Emperor in 1850. A singer, opera composer and politician, he spent all his life abroad, firstly in Italy, then in France. After the fall of the Second Empire Poniatowski accompanied Napoleon III into exile in London in 1871. He died in Kent in 1873. It is possible that he inherited the Urbino plaque in this lot from his father’s art collection.
The history of the Earls of Breadalbane and Holland stretches far back into the late 17th century in Scotland, and the family can trace their origins to the early 13th century. During the 19th century the power and wealth of the family was at its peak, as was their influence on Scottish society. The family seat, Taymouth Castle, was built between 1806 and 1842 by John Campbell, 4th Earl and 1st Marquess of Breadalbane, to a dramatic Neo-Gothic design, on the banks of the river Tay. In September 1842 the 2nd Marquess, John Campbell, played host to a splendid four-day visit from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and it is believed that the Queen’s visit to Taymouth confirmed her love of Scotland and the Highlands, where she went on to purchase Balmoral in 1852.
The plaque was most likely acquired by a member of the Breadalbane family at some point during the 19th century, when the elaborately carved frame, bearing the Breadalbane family crest, would have been specially commissioned to display the plaque. It is not currently known precisely where or when the plaque was acquired, but this could be revealed with further research. However, there is a firm connection between the Breadalbane family and Poniatowski works of art. John Campbell, the 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane (1796-1862) was a man of extreme wealth who spent vast fortunes on his homes, their contents and works of art. Sometime around 1850-1860 he commissioned the 'Breadalbane Vase-Candelabrum', a massive six-foot-tall silver, silver gilt and damascened piece, made by Antoine Vechte for Hunt & Roskell. It was inset with forty-six hardstone intaglio gems from the Poniatowski collection. The vase was displayed to great acclaim at the International Exhibition in London in 1862. It is not currently known if the 2nd Marquess acquired the Poniatowski gems himself or if they were provided for the vase by Hunt & Roskell. However, if John Campbell, the 2nd Marquess, purchased the gems himself, either when they were offered for sale at Christie’s in 1839 or at a subsequent date this connection with works of art from the Poniatowski collectiont suggests that it may have been him who acquired the Urbino maiolica plaque in this lot.
The plaque was passed by family descent to the current vendor, through the ownership of The Hon. Caroline Mary Morgan Grenville (1886-1972), a granddaughter of the third Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, whose mother, Lady Mary, was the daughter of the 4th Earl and 1st Marquis of Breadalbane.
Lyon & Turnbull would like to thank to Celia Curnow for assisting with the research and cataloguing of this lot.
LITERATURE:
Bartsch, Adam von Le peintre-graveur, Degen, Vienna, 1803-21
Gabbarelli, Jamie, Bober, Jonathan, Sharing Images – Renaissance Prints into Maiolica and Bronze, National Gallery of Art Washington, Washington 2018
Mallet, J.V.G. Xanto. Pottery-Painter, Poet, Man of the Italian Renaissance with contributions by Giovanna Hendel and Elisa Paola Sani, Wallace Collection, London 2007
Rackham, Bernard, Victoria & Albert Museum: Catalogue of Italian Maiolica, London [re-issued with additions by J.V.G. Mallet, London 1977]
Ravanelli Guidotti, Carmen, Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche in Faenza. La Donazione Angiolo Fanfani. Ceramiche dal Medioevo al XX secolo. Faenza 1990
[1] Bartsch XIV.34.28 https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_H-1-24
[2] Rackham, Cat799, p22
[3] Ravanelli Guidotti, Cat120, p216
[4] Sani in J.V.G. Mallet, 2007. APPENDIX C, List of Works by or attributed to Francesco Xanto Avelli, Unsigned pieces attributable to Xanto from c.1530-42, Cat413, p201
[5] Gabbarelli, Jamie, pl20, p70