The Gothic artist has succeeded in rendering the story with great graphic truth and completeness. The King beneath the robe of the Duchess—Nantouillet plunging into the tub of water—the agony of the four sufferers—the astonishment and grief of the Duke of Orleans—nothing, in short, is omitted; and, with all the accessories of musicians, furniture, &c. &c., the picture forms a most interesting and precious record of the manners of the time.[Pg 143]
The Duchess of Orleans quitting Paris.
PLATE XXXIII.
THE DUCHESS OF ORLEANS QUITTING PARIS.
The malady to which the King of France was subject generally attacked him every year, when he was for a time subject to delirium and madness. The disease defied all the attempts of the physicians. The royal family, as a last resource, threw themselves into the hands of the sorcerers of the time, who, to explain away their failures, declared that the devil had communicated to them the fact that the Duchess of Orleans, a daughter of the Duke of Milan, had, by magic arts, laid the King under a charm, with the view of causing his death, and so becoming Queen of France. These accusations soon became known and spoken of throughout all Paris, insomuch that the Duchess, to avoid the scandal of such reports, retired to Asnieres, where the Duke had a handsome château, and remained a long time absent from the Court.
The picture was selected on account of showing the mode of riding adopted by ladies of rank of the period; which, unlike that of the lower orders, appears very similar to the present manner, except that the saddle or pad appears to be without the peculiar pommel, or rather horn, used.[Pg 147][Pg 146]
