FRENCH SCHOOL CIRCA 1700, FOLLOWER OF NICOLAS MIGNARD PORTRAIT OF PAULINE DE GRIGNAN, MARQUISE DE SIMIANE (1674-1737) WITH AN APPLE Canvas Old restorations Louis XIV period carved and gilded wood frame (gilded) French school ca 1700, foll. of N. Mignard, Portrait of Marquise de Simiane with an apple, canvas, with restorations 91,5 x 75 CM - 35,8 x 29,5 IN. There are several versions of this composition, including one in the Château de Grignan. PROVENANCE Probably anonymous sale, Paris, Cornette de Saint Cyr, 19 May 1999, no. 30 (27 000,00 F) Pauline-Adhémar de Monteil de Grignan, Marquise de Simiane (1674-1735), was the beloved granddaughter of the famous letter-writer Madame de Sévigné. Orphaned at an early age, she was brought up by her grandmother, who had a deep affection for her and often mentioned her in her letters. Married to Charles de Simiane, Pauline led a life marked by piety, discretion and the literary connections inherited from Madame de Sévigné's entourage. She played an essential role in the preservation and first publication of her grandmother's letters: it was thanks to her that the precious correspondence was collected, revised and distributed in the eighteenth century, thus ensuring the posterity of the work.