Skeleton clock with painted porcelain plaque depicting the Duchess of Berry

Skeleton clock with a painted porcelain plaque depicting the Duchess of Berry, ca. 1829. Of French origin, made of gilded bronze and painted porcelain. (Published in the book "Naples 1836 – The rooms of the queen mother" by De Luca Editori d’Arte. In 1831 (ASN, Casa Reale Amministrativa, III inv., busta 88), the queen mother, with the consent of her royal son, retrieved a series of furnishings and objects from the Royal Palace and the Royal Residences of Portici and Capodimonte to furnish her new home. Among the many objects, from the Music Room in the Royal Palace, "a gilt bronze table clock with music underneath, playing four tunes, located in the pedestal, on the front of said clock above enamelled porcelain is the portrait of H.R.H. the Duchess of Berry" (p. 9) was removed. The same clock is described in the 1848 Inventory (p. 284 v) as a "gilt bronze table clock with a porcelain figure on the front, with a skeleton mechanism for time indication, crystal bell, and music in the base, 60 ducats" and is proudly displayed in the Gallery on the ground floor of Villa della Regina, in the rooms preceding the so-called Museum. Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Naples, born in 1798, Duchess of Berry since 1816, was the daughter of the first marriage of Isabella's royal consort, born from her marriage to Archduchess Maria Clementina of Austria, who soon passed away. Her relationship with her stepmother Isabella was scarce but good, so much so that in her sitting room, called the room of portraits, there was a large portrait of the Duchess and one of her son, the Duke of Bordeaux, known as the "miracle child" for being born a few months after the death of his father, who was assassinated in 20. The two ladies only met in 1829 during the visit of the Neapolitan couple to Spain for the wedding of their daughter Maria Cristina, and Francis I, passing through France, had the opportunity to see his eldest daughter again in Grenoble and then meet her again in Paris, where he stayed for a long time with his wife upon returning from Madrid. On this occasion, many gifts were exchanged, and we like to assume that this clock was among them. Similarly, we can assume that the "glorious" portrait of the Duchess, crowned with roses by a group of cherubs – her having adventurously given birth to the heir to the French throne had made her a Bourbon myth – may have a precedent in the series of those charming small-format portraits of the young Bourbons of France and Spain and the Orléans, created by Alexandre Dubois Drahonnet precisely between 1828 and 1829, and partly preserved at Capodimonte, which also feature Maria Carolina herself. Era: 19th century; Origin: France; Measurements: Height: 59 cm; Width 30 cm; Depth 13.5 cm. Condition: Excellent condition; Document: Certificate of authenticity; Assistance: We are at your disposal for further clarification, information, and images; Shipping: Available throughout Italy, Europe, and the rest of the world. Affordable prices, maximum security, and complete traceability. (To be agreed privately). We wish you a good day Antichità Goglia