ITALIAN SCHOOL, circa 1798

细节
ITALIAN SCHOOL, circa 1798

King Ferdinand IV of Naples with powdered short wig, wearing a blue naval uniform with red collar and black stock, decorated with the jewel of the Order of the Golden Fleece, the red sash and the breast-star of the Royal Sicilian Order of Saint-Januarius, the white and blue sash and the breast-star of the Royal Spanish Order of Charles III, and the blue sash and breast-star of the Royal French Order of the Saint-Esprit; oval -- 45 mm high, plain gold mount engraved with an inscription.

拍品专文

The inscription engraved on the gold mount reads: "Portrait of His Majesty The King of Naples, presented by him in a Diamond Snuff-Box to Horatio Lord Nelson Duke of Bronte on the glorious Victory obtained by him at the Battle of the Nile".
This inscription refers to the destruction of the French naval troops by Lord Nelson's army, in Egypt in 1798. One year later, Nelson defended the Kingdom of Naples and was awarded with the title of Duke of Bronte (in Sicily) by King Ferdinand IV, in 1800.
Ferdinand IV (1751-1825) was the third son of King Charles III of Spain (see lot 364), and the brother of King Charles IV of Spain (see lot 371). Due to his numerous descendance from his marriage with Maria Carolina of Habsburg (see lot 346), he also was the father of several sovereigns including the Infanta Maria-Antonieta (see lot 348), first wife of the future King Ferdinand VII of Spain.