Artwork

Françoise-Marie de Bourbon known as Mademoiselle de Blois and Louise-Françoise de Bourbon known as Mademoiselle de Nantes

Françoise-Marie de Bourbon known as Mademoiselle de Blois and Louise-Françoise de Bourbon known as Mademoiselle de Nantes is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Philippe Vignon. It dates from 1696 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents the children within a domestic setting that includes a dog, a vase of flowers, and the presence of a domestic worker.

This 1690 portrait by Philippe Vignon depicts the royal sisters Françoise-Marie de Bourbon, known as Mademoiselle de Blois, and Louise-Françoise de Bourbon, known as Mademoiselle de Nantes. The composition presents the children within a domestic setting that includes a dog, a vase of flowers, and the presence of a domestic worker.

The inclusion of these elements alongside the sisters emphasizes their status within the Bourbon family structure. By portraying the subjects seated together with symbols of childhood and household life, the work functions as a formal record of their lineage and familial bond during their youth.

Technique & Style

The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, a format typical of late 17th‑century French portraiture. The surface bears the dimensions recorded in the catalogue entry, measuring eighty centimeters in height by ninety centimeters in width. The composition depicts two young women seated together with a dog, a domestic servant, a child, and a vase of flowers, all rendered in a restrained, naturalistic style that emphasizes fine drapery and delicate facial detail.

The handling of light and color reflects the academic conventions of the period, while the inclusion of domestic elements underscores the aristocratic identity of the sitters.

History & Provenance

Philippe Vignon created this oil on canvas portrait in 1690. The painting measures 80 cm in height by 90 cm in width. It is held in the collections of the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles, specifically within the musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon. The artwork is catalogued under the inventory numbers MV 3645, INV 8445, and LP 7280.

Overview

Philippe Vignon’s 1696 oil portrait presents two members of the Bourbon family, Françoise‑Marie de Bourbon (styled Mademoiselle de Blois) and Louise‑Françoise de Bourbon (Mademoiselle de Nantes), alongside a small dog. The work is part of the collection at the Palace of Versailles, where it remains on public display.

Context

The work belongs to a broader tradition of court portraiture that sought to display lineage, fashion, and personal virtue. Vignon’s composition aligns with contemporary French portraiture, where elaborate dress and symbolic accessories conveyed status and familial connections.