François Hubert Drouais (Paris 1727-1775) Portrait of Comtesse du Barry holding a woven basket of pink roses signed and dated 'Drouais,/1770' (centre left) oil on canvas, oval 69.2 x 56.2cm (27 1/4 x 22 1/8in). Footnotes: Provenance Collection of The Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Foundation, USA The illegitimate daughter of a seamstress, Jeanne Bécu, Comtesse du Barry (1743-1793) rose to succeed Madame de Pompadour as King Louis XV's Maîtresse-en-titre. The present portrait was painted in the year that she was famously introduced to Marie Antoinette the day before her wedding to the Dauphin. After being told that the splendidly dressed du Barry's role was to give pleasure to the king, the innocent 14-year-old archduchess added that she would thus be her rival. On later learning the true nature of that role an instant hatred was instilled in the future queen towards du Barry. The two powerful women ultimately shared the same fate, Jeanne being beheaded by the guillotine in December 1793. Her reputation lived on in the many culinary dishes that are named 'du Barry', many including cauliflower in a creamy white sauce, which was probably an allusion to her powdered wigs with curls piled on top of each other. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com