Heliogravure Royalty Henriette of Belgium, Duchess of Vendôm signed For Sale

Princess Henriette of Belgium, Duchess of Vendomeoriginal heliogravure by Andre Topinier enhanced with color engraving on white cardboard.

Under the image inscribed by Princess Henriette to Mrs. Dargie:

“For Mrs Dargie with best Vendom

11 April 1925”

Princess Henriette of Belgium, laterPrincess Henriette of Orléans, Duchess of Vendome(30 November 1870 – 28March 1948), was the daughter of Prince Phillipe, Count of Flanders, and Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.

She married in Brussels, Belgiumon12 February 1896 Prince Emmanuel of Orleans, 8th Duke of Vendome(18 January 1872 Austria-Hungary– 1 February 1931 Cannes, France),son of Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Alenkon, and Duchess Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria, and was a great-grandson of King Louis-Phillipe of FranceThe couple had four children.

Princess Henriette was a remarkable athlete and hunter among Royals and well known in Belgian sporting circles. She was also a skilled artist known for numerous drawings and watercolors. During World War I, she dedicated her efforts to managing charities and donations for supporting troops and ordinary citizens during German invasion of Belgium and France.

Henriette of Belgium, Duchess of Vendomehas died aged 77, on 28 March 1948, in Sierre, Valais, Switzerland

Original photograph of the princess is done by Andre Topinier, a French photographer, active from 1895 to 1930, specializing in portraits of celebrities.

Descendant of a Genevan family, he was born in 1869 in Beaumont (Haute-Savoie). He learned photography with Frédéric Boissonnas in Geneva and in 1895 created his studio in Reims at 29 rue Carnot.

In1901, he created a workshop in Paris at 12, rue de la Paix, in association with Frédéric Boissonnas. In 1912, he bought the shares of his partner.

He died on December 26th, 1930, in a traffic accident the day before. The activity of the workshop continued until 1958 by his son Pierre, who had assisted him for a decade.

Taponier specialized in portraits of celebrities (deputies, administrators, crowned heads, scholars and intellectuals, etc.). Some of his photos are enhanced with pastel and engravings.

Dimensions: Heliogravure size with margins: 20” x 15”, Plate size: 14” x 2.5”, Image size: 12”x 9”.

Condition: Heliogravure is in a very good condition for its age. Some discolorations and hardly visible paper creases. Ink has discolored (lightened) in the handwriting inscribe, but still visible.

Desirable item for Royalty Memorabilia collectors and Historians.