Maintenon / Miniature
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Maintenon / Miniature
Francoise d Aubigne, madame de MAINTENON, widow of the poet Scarron and second wife (secret) of Louis XIV. Date: 1635 - 1719
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Media ID 14296031
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1635 1719 Aubigne Francoise Madame Maintenon Scarron Secret Widow
EDITORS COMMENTS
This exquisite miniature portrays Francoise d'Aubigne, Marquise de Maintenon (1635-1719), a woman of intrigue and power in the court of King Louis XIV. Born into a noble but impoverished family, Francoise was educated by the Ursuline nuns and later married the poet Scarron. After Scarron's death, she entered the service of Anne of Austria, the queen mother, and eventually became the secret second wife of Louis XIV in 1660. The precise date of this miniature is unknown, but it captures Francoise in her later years, with her distinctive features softened by age. Her dark eyes, framed by long lashes, gaze intently out at the viewer, while her lips are pressed together in a determined line. Her hair, styled in the latest fashion, is arranged in tight curls atop her head, with a few loose strands falling across her forehead. A delicate lace collar adorns her neck, and she wears a richly embroidered robe, signaling her high rank. Despite her humble beginnings, Francoise rose to become one of the most influential women at the French court. She oversaw the education of the king's illegitimate children, known as the Maison Royale de Saint-Louis, and played a key role in the conversion of the king to Catholicism. Her influence extended beyond the court as well, as she founded the Order of the Adoration of the Sacred Heart, which spread throughout Europe. This miniature offers a glimpse into the life of a remarkable woman who defied the conventions of her time and left an indelible mark on French history.
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