Notes
The Huauds
The best-known and most prolific family of enamel painters of
their day. They descended from a family of goldsmiths in Châtellerault,
France, and emigrated to Geneva. The father, Pierre Huaud I
(1612 -1680) He was a protestant who emigrated to Geneva, where
he became a "habitant" in 1630. He finished his apprenticeship as
a goldsmith with Laurent Légaré in 1634, and soon afterwards
became Master goldsmith. In 1661 he served an apprenticeship in
enamel painting with Jean André. His three sons became enamel
painters as well. Pierre II (1647 ? c.1698) He was apprenticed to his
father. In 1685/6 he went to Berlin to work in the service of the
Brandenburg Elector. After a brief stay there, he returned to Geneva
in 1686. Pierre II went back to Germany at the end of 1689, and in
1691 he was named painter-miniaturist to Frederick I. Jean-Pierre
(1655 -1723) and his brother Ami (1657-1724) Became partners
from 1682 to 1688. They, like their older brother, were appointed
painters to the Court of the Brandenburg Elector in 1686, and went
to Berlin where they lived and worked until 1700, at which point
they returned to Geneva. Although much of their work was done in
partnership, they also often worked alone.
Eugene of Savoy
Was born on October 18, 1663 in Paris. He was the fifth son of
Prince Eugene Maurice of Savoy-Carignano, comte de Soissons,
grandson to Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy and Olympia
Mancini, niece to the powerful Cardinal Mazarin. There were
rumors that his real father was Louis XIV. He quickly distinguished
himself in battle and advanced in rank to imperial field marshal at
age 29. He fought notably against the Turks in central Europe and
the Balkans and against France in the War of the Grand Alliance
and the War of the Spanish succession. With his friend the duke of
Marlborough, he won the important victory at the Battle of
Blenheim (1704) and ousted the French from Italy. In 1718 he won
a great triumph over the Turks, taking the city of Belgrade. He later
served as governor in the Austrian Netherlands (1714?24). An outstanding
strategist and an inspired leader, he was regarded as one
of the greatest soldiers of his generation. At his death, in 1736,
Eugene was one of the wealthiest men in Europe. His fortune
passed to his niece, Princess Victoria of Savoy-Carignan whom he
had never met. She sold his extensive library to the Austrian
Emperor, and it formed the core of what is today the Austrian
National Library.