Pendulum clock with painted porcelain plaque depicting the Duchess of Berry, c. 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, withdrew a series of furnishings and objects from the Royal Palace and from the Royal Residences of Portici and Capodimonte to furnish her new home. Among the many objects, from the Music room in the Royal Palace was removed "a gilded bronze table clock with music underneath, with four melodies, located in the pedestal, in the front of said clock above enamelled porcelain is the portrait of HRH the Duchess of Berry" (p. 9) The same clock is described in the Inventory of 1848 (p. 284 v) as a "gilded bronze table clock with a porcelain figure on the front, with pendulum time indication, crystal bell and music in the base, 60 ducats" and it 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 from 1816, was the eldest daughter of Isabella's royal consort, born from her marriage to Archduchess Maria Clementina of Austria, who died early. Her relationship with her stepmother Isabella was scarce but good, so much so that in her companion room called the portraits room 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, assassinated in 20. The two ladies only met in 1829 on the occasion of the Neapolitan couple's trip to Spain for the marriage of their daughter Maria Cristina, and Francesco 1, passing through France, was able 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, on his return from Madrid. On this occasion, many gifts were exchanged, and we like to suppose 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 adventurous birth of the heir to the throne of France had made her a Bourbon myth - may have a precedent in that series of delicate, small-format portraits of the young Bourbons of France and Spain and the Orléans, made by Alexandre Dubois Drahonnet precisely between 1828 and 1829, and partly preserved at Capodimonte, in which Maria Carolina herself appears. Epoch: 19th century; Origin: France; Dimensions: 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. Competitive prices, maximum security and complete traceability. (To be agreed privately). We wish you a good day Antichità Goglia
