Artwork

Presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois

Presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois, by Pierre Mignard I, oil, 1694
Presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois, by Pierre Mignard I, oil, 1694

Presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Pierre Mignard I. It dates from 1694 and is held in the collection of the Department of Paintings of the Louvre. Created in 1694, this oil painting is attributed to Pierre Mignard, the French artist often called “Mignard le Romain.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

A bouquet of flowers and a vase further emphasize themes of beauty and transience, while the inclusion of a dog may symbolize fidelity or companionship.

The presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois is identified as a representation of a young noblewoman, likely Françoise-Marie de Bourbon, legitimized daughter of Louis XIV and Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart, Mademoiselle de Montespan. The painting’s iconography centers on aristocratic attributes: an elegant dress, a delicate shoe, and a parrot perched nearby, all signifiers of refinement and elite status. A bouquet of flowers and a vase further emphasize themes of beauty and transience, while the inclusion of a dog may symbolize fidelity or companionship.

The setting, possibly a park, situates the subject within a cultivated, leisurely world reserved for the nobility of the period.

Technique & Style

Created in 1687, the Presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 138 cm in height and 98 cm in width. As a portrait by Pierre Mignard I, the painting depicts a young girl of nobility accompanied by a dog, a parrot, and a bouquet within a park setting.

The composition includes formal elements such as a vase and a shoe, characteristic of the artist's approach to aristocratic portraiture during the late seventeenth century.

History & Provenance

Created in 1687, the oil-on-canvas portrait was executed by Pierre Mignard I. The work was formerly attributed to Constantin Netscher before its current identification. Historically, the painting entered the collection of Louis La Caze. It is now held by the Department of Paintings of the Louvre, where it is cataloged under inventory number MI 942.

The portrait is also associated with the Museum of the History of France and the Palace of Versailles, reflecting its status within the French national heritage collections.

The painting is held in the Department of Paintings at the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it bears the inventory number MI 942. While the work is part of the Louvre's collections, it is located at the Palace of Versailles within the Museum of the History of France. The piece was previously owned by Louis La Caze before entering the national collections.

Historical records indicate that the portrait was once attributed to Constantin Netscher, a designation noted by Demonts, before being correctly assigned to Pierre Mignard. No specific exhibition history is detailed in the available records.

Context

Scholarship identifies the work as a late portrait by Pierre Mignard I painted in 1687 for the French court, reflecting the decorative elegance characteristic of late Louis XIV portraiture. The painting entered the royal collection through Louis La Caze and is now part of the Louvre's Paintings department, formerly displayed at Versailles. Contemporary accounts praised its refined handling of texture and color, while modern studies situate it within Mignard's broader oeuvre of aristocratic subjects and his role in shaping 17th-century French portrait conventions.

Legacy

The presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois, attributed to Pierre Mignard I and painted in 1687, has been reattributed from early associations with Constantin Netscher to Mignard’s oeuvre, influencing scholarly understanding of French Baroque portraiture. Its inclusion in the Louvre’s collection and designation within the Joconde database cemented its status as a key example of late 17th‑century French portraiture, shaping both academic discourse and public exhibition narratives.

Overview

Created in 1694, this oil painting is attributed to Pierre Mignard, the French artist often called “Mignard le Romain.” It portrays a young woman, traditionally identified as Mademoiselle de Blois, standing on a stone floor, clutching a small green sprig while a black‑and‑white dog gazes up at her. The work belongs to the collection of the Palace of Versailles.

Portrait of Mademoiselle Léomenie Brienne, Marquise de Roualt Gamache
Portrait of Mademoiselle Léomenie Brienne, Marquise de Roualt Gamache

Artist & collection

Portrait of Pierre Mignard I

Artist

Pierre Mignard I

Pierre Mignard or Pierre Mignard I (French pronunciation:; 17 November 1612 – 30 May 1695), called "Mignard le Romain" to distinguish him from his brother Nicolas Mignard, was a French painter known for his religious and mythological…

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois?

Presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois was painted by Pierre Mignard I in 1687-01-01.

Where can I see Presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois?

Presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois is held by Department of Paintings of the Louvre.

What movement is Presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois?

Presumed portrait of Mademoiselle de Blois is associated with Rococo painting.