Artwork

Louis XIV and Anne of Austria

Louis XIV and Anne of Austria, oil, 1639
Louis XIV and Anne of Austria, oil, 1639

Louis XIV and Anne of Austria is an oil painting. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts Anne of Austria seated with the young Louis XIV, who is identified as the Dauphin, positioned beside her in a formal family portrait.

The painting depicts Anne of Austria seated with the young Louis XIV, who is identified as the Dauphin, positioned beside her in a formal family portrait. Anne is rendered in three-quarter view, wearing a jewel and lace, emphasizing her status within the royal household. Louis XIV appears as a boy in three-quarter view, also adorned with lace, reinforcing his youthful yet ceremonial role.

The composition functions as a collective portrait of the royal family, symbolizing dynastic continuity and the political significance of maternal influence in the early reign of the future Sun King.

Technique & Style

This 1639 portrait is executed in oil paint on canvas, measuring 120 cm in height and 96.5 cm in width. The composition is a collective family portrait featuring Anne of Austria and the young Louis XIV. Stylistically, the work presents the figures in three-quarter view; the queen is depicted seated and adorned with jewelry and lace, while the boy dauphin stands in a full-length pose, also dressed in lace.

The painting belongs to the portrait genre and captures the intimate yet formal dynamic between the seated mother and her standing child.

History & Provenance

The work was painted in 1639 as a portrait of Anne of Austria with her son, the future Louis XIV, who is depicted as a child. It was created shortly after the birth of the Dauphin and reflects the royal family's interest in documenting dynastic ties. The painting entered the collection of the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles, where it remains on display.

The artwork measures 120 cm in height and 96.5 cm in width, executed in oil on canvas. Its subject includes Anne of Austria seated with a lace collar and Louis XIV portrayed as a boy in three-quarter view, both rendered with attention to contemporary court dress and ornamentation. The piece was later catalogued in the Joconde database under reference 000PE012166 and has been part of the Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon since its transfer to the national collections.

The painting is held at the Museum of the History of France, Palace of Versailles, under the inventory number 000PE012166 in the Joconde database of the Collections des musées de France. Its location is specifically the musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon at Versailles. No exhibition history is provided in the available sources.

Overview

The oil painting portrays a young boy in an ornate white and blue costume, his attire trimmed with lace and a blue sash, standing upon a red platform. He clasps the hand of a seated woman on a red chair, who is dressed in a white gown accented with gold and wears a pearl necklace and a chest brooch. A dark backdrop and a red curtain frame the figures, creating a formal composition.

Portrait of Anne of Austria (1601-1666)
Portrait of Anne of Austria (1601-1666), Henri and Charles Beaubrun

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Palace of Versailles open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see Louis XIV and Anne of Austria?

Louis XIV and Anne of Austria is held by Palace of Versailles.

What movement is Louis XIV and Anne of Austria?

Louis XIV and Anne of Austria is associated with French Classical Baroque.