Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.

Watercolour, 28,5 x 19,5 cm, laid paper, signed at lower left "Bolomeÿ 1779" (some sl. spotting).

Under modern passe-partout and gilt wooden frame.

Nice and detailed view of the costume of a grand master of this famous order of knighthood whose origins traditionally date back to Emperor Constantine, and still active today. Bolomey (Lausanne 1739-1819) received his early artistic education in Paris, where he studied between 1752 and 1760. He moved to The Hague in 1763, joining the Confrerie Pictura the same year, later regent of the Confrerie. He was a court painter to William V, Prince of Orange, and director of the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague from 1777 until 1791, when he returned to Lausanne. He is known for his portraits of the Dutch society.
Ref. P. Chessex, "Bolomey, Benjamin", in Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, online ed.