French: Artist Unknown

Early Nineteenth Century Depiction of Twelfth Century
French Philosopher Pierre Abélard (ca. 1079-1142) in a Loving
Embrace with His Young Student, Héloïse d’Argenteuil (1100-1863)

French
circa 1800-1810
Artist unknown

2 inches diameter (sight)

watercolor on ivory; housed under glass in a gilt metal surround
(which was likely originally set within the lid of a decorative container)

About the Portrait: When originally acquired, it was assumed this was simply a portrait of two lovers being depicted as Romeo and Juliet. A fellow collector then suggested that it might instead be a be a portrait of the English Shakespearean actor Edmund Kean (1787-1833), depicted playing the role of Romeo. Although the estimated age of the portrait fits that of Kean's lifetime, and although the man in this miniature does resemble some depictions of Kean, it remains difficult to reconcile that, rather than English, the portrait is instead painted in a typically French manner (opaque background, round format, housed in a French gilt surround). Bodo Hofstetter, a specialist in European portrait miniatures, later suggested that the miniature is more likely a depiction of twelfth century French lovers "Abélard and Héloïse", whom Hofstetter says were frequently featured in allegorical or historical miniatures of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In analyzing details of the portrait, we are inclined to agree with Hofstetter's attribution. It remains unknown, however, whether the couple in the portrait were real individuals simply depicted as Abélard and Héloïse, or whether the miniature was an artistic representation of the historical characters Abélard and Héloïse.

Pierre Abélard (ca. 1079-1142; Peter Abelard in English), often referred to as the Descartes of the twelfth century, was a leading philosopher and theologian of his time. He is perhaps better known, however, for his tragic love affair with one of his students, Héloïse d’Argenteuil (1100-1863), 21 years his junior. The two fell in love, Héloïse became inconveniently pregnant, and a secret marriage ensued, all despite the objections of Héloïse’s overprotective uncle and charge, Canon Fulbert of Notre Dame, who violently protested the union. In an effort to protect his pregnant bride, Abélard sent Héloïse away to a convent in Argenteuil. This only further provoked the ire of Canon Fulbert, however, and in a rage of anger, he sent a gang of hired thugs to attack and castrate Abelard. Ashamed of his injuries, Abelard retreated to the monastery of St. Denis (near Paris), where he lived for a period as a cloistered monk. He later moved on to St. Gildas, in Brittany, where he became an abbot. Heloise, too, lived the life of a cloistered nun and eventually rose to the level of prioress of Argenteuil. She later moved to Paraclete, where she was elevated in succession from prioress to abbess, and eventually prelate nullius (roughly equivalent to the rank of a bishop). Abélard and Héloïse's son, whom they named Astrolabe, was raised by Abélard's sister, Dionysia, at Abélard's childhood home in Le Pallet.