In 1875, Princess Isabel drew Pedro sleeping, her firstborn son.
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Drawing of Princess Isabel by her son Pedro.
- One sheet glued on top of another.
- 24 cm x 16 cm.
- Note in French.
- Petrópolis, October 1875.
- Tissue paper, fragile.
- Unique piece.
Baby, drawn by Isabelle.
Petropolis, October 1875
Princess Isabel of Brazil, daughter of Dom Pedro II and Dona Teresa Cristina, had a great interest in drawing and painting. She began taking lessons as a child and continued to practice these activities throughout her adult life. She enjoyed drawing landscapes, flowers, art objects, people, and animals. Some of Princess Isabel's drawings depict scenes from her daily life, such as a view of the Imperial Palace of São Cristóvão or portraits of members of the royal family. In addition, there are drawings showing landscapes of places she visited, such as Petrópolis, the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, and the city of Paris.
Artistic production was a common activity among elite Brazilian women of the time, especially those with access to formal education. But Princess Isabel also supported the arts and culture in general, having been a patron of artists, writers, and musicians from Brazil and Europe: this was an important aspect of her private life.
It is not known for certain where Princess Isabel's interest in art came from, but it is possible that it was influenced by her father, Emperor Dom Pedro II, who was a patron of the arts and encouraged the cultural development of Brazil.
The Imperial Museum in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, holds in its collection some works by Princess Isabel, including drawings, watercolors, and oil paintings. The National Library of Rio de Janeiro also possesses some works by Princess Isabel, including drawings and paintings. However, examples of Princess Isabel's drawings are scarce, and much of her artistic work has been kept in private collections or government archives. Some of these works may even have been lost over time.
Pedro, depicted here sleeping, was only a few months old. He was the first child of Princess Isabel and the Count d'Eu after the loss of Luisa, who died in childbirth, an immense trauma for the couple. In this extremely delicate drawing, we can feel all the Princess's affection and happiness for this "baby" after so much suffering. The two handwritten lines are also in her hand.
