Artwork
Portrait of Marie Louise d'Orléans (1662–1689)
Portrait of Marie Louise d'Orléans (1662–1689) is an oil painting by the French Classical Baroque artist Louis Ferdinand Elle the Elder. It is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work functions as a formal portrait capturing the likeness of the French princess who became the Spanish consort.
The painting depicts Marie Louise d'Orléans (1662–1689), who is identified as the Queen of Spain. The composition places the royal subject within a landscape setting featuring a lake. Distinctive iconographic elements include a swan and peonies positioned alongside the figure.
These natural details serve as attributes surrounding the monarch, framing her representation within an outdoor environment rather than a strict interior court scene. The work functions as a formal portrait capturing the likeness of the French princess who became the Spanish consort.
Technique & Style
The portrait is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, a typical medium for French Baroque portraiture of the late seventeenth century. The canvas measures approximately 81 cm in height and 64 cm in width. Dated 1679 and attributed to Louis Ferdinand Elle the Elder, the work belongs to the genre of portrait painting.
The sources do not provide further details on the artist’s handling, surface condition, or specific stylistic nuances beyond its classification as an oil‑on‑canvas portrait.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Marie Louise d'Orléans was created in 1679 by the artist Louis Ferdinand Elle the Elder. Executed in oil on canvas, the work depicts the subject alongside a swan and floral elements. The painting is currently held by the Museum of the History of France, located within the Palace of Versailles.
While the specific commissioning patron is not detailed in the provided records, the work has been integrated into the national collections of France under the management of the Réunion des musées nationaux.
The painting is held at the Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon in Versailles, France, inventoried as PE 7091 in the Joconde database of French museum collections.
It has been exhibited at the Palace of Versailles under the aegis of the Museum of the History of France, where the work remains in the collection as of the latest record.
Overview
Portrait of Marie Louise d'Orléans is an oil painting created by French artist Louis Ferdinand Elle the Elder in 1690. It portrays Marie Louise d'Orléans, a member of the Orléans royal family, in a serene yet subtly tense pose.
Context
Set against a backdrop of a rocky landscape and a serene lake with swans, the composition juxtaposes the natural world with the formal, dressed figure of Marie Louise, highlighting the contrast between nature's tranquility and the complexities of royal life.
Legacy
As a work of the French Classical Baroque, it contributes to the period's artistic legacy, offering a glimpse into 17th-century portraiture and the representation of royalty. Its presence in Versailles underscores its enduring historical and artistic value.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Louis Ferdinand Elle the Elder
Louis Ferdinand Elle the Elder (19 July 1612 – 12 December 1689) was a French portrait painter. He was the son of Ferdinand Elle.
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