Portrait Of

Very beautiful portrait of Monsieur, brother of King Louis XIV.
He wears a beautiful armor and a lace jabot.He also wears the white sash which is the official mark of royal power in France.It is the distinctive badge of the Bourbon kings, the one they display on their official portraits.

This 17th-century oil on canvas is presented with its carved and gilded wooden frame, decorated in the Berain period, 17th century.
Of high quality, there is certainly a nice discovery to make for those who will know to whom to attribute it.

Dimension with frame: 69 x 58 cm
Dimension without frame: 63,5 x 52,5 cm

The painting is finished.

Provenance: collection of the Marquis de Lagoy, by descendants.

Philippe de France is called «Monsieur», a title reserved under the Ancien Régime for the king’s younger brother, to distinguish him from the brother of Louis XIII, Gaston d'Orléans, the «Grand Monsieur».Upon the latter’s death in 1660, he became, at the age of 20, head of the house in Orléans.
Eleven years later, in 1671, after the death of his first wife Henriette of England, Louis XIV forced his brother to marry Elisabeth-Charlotte of Bavaria, called Madame Palatine.From this union were born three children, including Philippe d'Orléans, future Regent, and Mademoiselle de Chartres.
Attracted by feminine costumes and eccentric adornments, surrounded by his favourites and followers of the Italian vice, Philippe de France was not entrusted with any political office by the King who did not approve of his behaviour.

However, he emerged brilliant winner of the battle of Cassel, on April 11, 1677, during the Dutch war where William of Orange was beaten.
«More Parisian than Versaillais», Monsieur lives between the Château de Saint-Cloud and the Palais-Royal, leaving the Court where he introduced Molière and his troupe.His castle is considered «the other Versailles».The gardens designed by Le Nôtre and the apartments decorated by the painter Mignard rival the palace of Louis XIV. It is also there that he died in 1701, after having maintained complex relations with his brother, but always tinged with a deep mutual brotherly love.

Photos are taken in natural light

Neat packaging