Duchesse De Fontanges
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library
Duchesse De Fontanges
MARIE ANGELIQUE, Duchess de Fontanges and mistress to Louis XIV. Date: 1661 - 1681
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 14269618
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1661 1681 Angelique Duchess Duchesse Fontanges Marie Mistress Pearls Stomacher Tucker
EDITORS COMMENTS
This exquisite 17th century portrait captures the enigmatic beauty of Marie Angélique de Fontanges, Duchess of Fontanges and the favored mistress of King Louis XIV of France. The painting, created between the years 1661 and 1681, showcases the Duchess in an elegant and opulent costume typical of the French Court during the reign of the Sun King. Marie Angélique de Fontanges, born in 1648, rose to prominence at the French Court through her striking beauty and charm. She captured the heart of Louis XIV, who was already married to Marie-Thérèse of Austria. Their affair began in 1664, and Marie Angélique was soon granted the title of Duchess of Fontanges. In this portrait, the Duchess is depicted wearing a sumptuous costume that reflects the grandeur and sophistication of the French Court. The bodice of her dress is adorned with intricate lacework and pearls, while the stomacher, a triangular piece of fabric that covered the front of the bodice, is secured with a tucker, a decorative band of fabric. The voluminous skirt is draped with layers of rich fabric, creating an illusion of elegance and grace. The Duchess's hairstyle, with its elaborate curls and pearls, adds to her regal appearance. Her piercing gaze and the slight smile on her lips suggest a confident and alluring personality. Marie Angélique de Fontanges's story is a fascinating chapter in the history of the French Court. Her affair with Louis XIV ended tragically when she was implicated in a plot to assassinate the King's mistress, Madame de Montespan. She was banished from the Court and later died in poverty and obscurity in 1691. This portrait, however, immortalizes her beauty and the allure that once captivated the Sun King.
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