Her soft face is very well painted, she is represented here by three quarters with a dress adorned with pearls and jewels.
The colors are bright. The dark background of the painting contrasts with the queen, which made it particularly well.
This oil on canvas is close to the brothers Henri and Charles Beaubrun portraitists of the court of King Louis XIII and Louis XIV.
A very fine network of cracks is present.
The work is in its juice, are noteworthy old restorations (rentoilage, repainted), some gaps (scales).
The work is sold with its black frame in good condition.
Dimensions at sight: 63 x 55 cm
Frame dimensions: 79 x 67 cm
Maria Theresa of Austria (1638-1683)
Daughter of Philip II, King of Spain, and Elisabeth of France, Maria Theresa was born on 10 September 1638 in Madrid. The young infanta received a narrow, rigid and deeply devout education. From an early age, Marie-Thérèse lived with the conviction of marrying Louis XIV, her doubly Germain cousin. The marriage, inevitable, concretizing the peace of the Pyrenees, was the work of the cardinal of Mazarin.
The marriage took place on June 9, 1660, in St Jean de Luz. Louis XIV immediately pleased Marie-Thérèse, who remained enamoured of him, very ingenuously, until his death. The king courted his entourage when asked his opinion of his young wife, he found her «very beautiful» and he declared that it would be «easy for him to love».
The queen will give birth to six children, most of whom died in infancy because of inbreeding.
Living confined in her apartments, in the company of a few Spanish camerists, Marie-Thérèse spoke Spanish and spent her days drinking cinnamon chocolate, far from the Versailles festivities. She was nevertheless jealous and sensitive, she «always had in her head that she was despised». The queen was often forced to cohabit with her husband’s favorites, much to her despair. She retreated into religion, frequently visiting convents and distributing many alms.
In 1680, when the king fell in love with the governess of the bastards he had from Mme de Montespan, Françoise de Maintenon, he approached his wife on the latter’s advice. Marie-Thérèse was very grateful, saying: «God raised up Madame de Maintenon to give me back the heart of the king». Alas, she took little advantage of this revival.
On returning from a trip to Burgundy and Alsace, Marie-Thérèse had a high fever, before a tumor appeared under her left arm. The doctors, ignorant, bled her twice, and she died quickly. July 30, 1683, at Versailles. At the announcement of his wife’s passing, Louis XIV declared: «This is the first sorrow she caused me».
The photos are taken in natural light.
Neat packaging.
Shipping costs at the expense of the buyer.
I remain at your disposal for any additional information and photos.