The Bonnie Prince is shown in his youthful pomp, shortly before 1745 and all that, while Henry, the final Jacobite heir to publicly claim the thrones of England and Scotland, appears as an adolescent.
Both Stuart brothers spent much of their lives in Italy (both were born, raised and died in Rome) and it is likely that these portrait plaques, rendered in alabaster with octagonal ebonized and brass mounted frames, were made c.1740 to appeal to Jacobite milords enjoying the Grand Tour.
Each of the 12in (30cm) roundels suspended bronze medals reading Legitimacy of the Jacobite Succession.
The rare pair were guided at £2000-3000 at Stride & Son (18% buyer’s premium) of Chichester on December 18. However, multiple admirers and keen bidding took the pair to £19,500.
