Sculpture of the Day: Jean D’Orleans, Comte de Dunois et de Longueville

Jean D'Orleans
Comte de Dunois et de
Longueville
1825
Parian
The Royal Collection

Jean D’Orleans, Comte de Dunois et de Longueville, was a devout follower of Joan of Arc and was known to have killed a great many Englishmen in behalf of his radical French beliefs. Crafted in 1825, in hard-paste biscuit (parian), this figure of Jean D’Orleans is the work of the French porcelain-makers at Sèvres.


Given the Comte’s passion for killing the English, it would seem peculiar that his likeness would be something that would appeal to King George IV. Yet, in 1828, he purchased this piece to add to his collection of French artifacts. The King, however, had an unusual sense of objectivity about historical subjects. Despite the Comte’s anti-English outlook, the King respected Jean D’Orlean’s strength and bravery and happily added his figure to the Royal Collection.