63 Portrait of Louis XV. when young (925). . . . . Rigaud.
Half-length, turned to the left; his left hand is in his sash, his right holds a marshal’s bâton. His dress is a fawn-coloured doublet with a cuirass, a blue sash, and a blue mantle embroidered with a fleur-de-lys over it. Short hair, beardless face. On canvas, 3 ft. high, by 2 ft. 5 in. wide.
This portrait was painted by Rigaud, as the contemporary mezzotint engraving by J. Simon proves, and not, as has been said, by Mignard, who had been dead thirty years. He is considered one of the best French portrait-painters of that period. Louis XV. conferred several favours on him, and decorated him with the Order of St. Michael, in 1727, soon after this portrait was painted. This distinction was given, as he said, “tant en considération de la réputation acquise dans son art, que pour avoir peint la famille royalle jusqu’à la quatrième génération.”
64 Marianne, Duchess of Bourbon (985). . . . . Santerre?
Half-length, facing in front; her hands not seen. Her hair is dark, and dressed high, with a blue ribbon fastened over with a red jewel, and carried to the front. Her dress is yellow brocade with red drapery. On canvas, 2 ft. 5 in. high, by 2 ft. wide.
Behind is written in ink:—“Marianne. de. bourbon. fille. de. Monsieur. le. prince. de. Conty. famme. de. Monsieur. le. duc. de. bourbon.”
She married, in 1713, Louis Henri de Bourbon, brother of Mademoiselle de Clermont (see No. 61), and died in 1720. There is a portrait of her husband at Paris, by Drouais.
The portrait before us is very possibly by Jean Baptiste Santerre, a good painter whose works are rare. He died in 1717.
65 The Emperor Paul of Russia (894). . . . . ——?