Artwork
Madame Adélaïde of France Holding a Fan
Madame Adélaïde of France Holding a Fan is an oil painting. It dates from 1752 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The embroidery and meticulous attention to textiles underscore her royal status and the cultural expectations of feminine elegance at the French court.
The portrait depicts Marie Adélaïde of France (1732–1799), a daughter of King Louis XV, as its central subject. She is shown holding a-valued accessories that signal aristocratic refinement: a hand fan, bijou jewelry, and elaborate lace, all set against the backdrop of an ornate hairstyle and luxurious dress. The embroidery and meticulous attention to textiles underscore her royal status and the cultural expectations of feminine elegance at the French court.
As a formal portrait by Jean-Marc Nattier, the work functions as both a likeness and a statement of dynastic prestige, presenting Madame Adélaïde as an emblem of Bourbon royalty and courtly sophistication.
Technique & Style
The portrait is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 103 by 120 centimeters. Jean-Marc Nattier renders the sitter with smooth, blended brushwork that emphasizes the soft modeling of flesh and the refined textures of lace and embroidery. The handling privileges a polished, courtly finish, with delicate highlights on the fan’s ivory sticks and the lustrous sheen of silk ribbons.
Stylistically, the composition adheres to the Rococo mode, arranging the princess against a neutral ground to concentrate attention on her attire and poised gesture. The fan, held open at an angle, serves as both accessory and compositional device, directing the viewer’s eye toward the sitter’s face and the intricate detailing of her dress and lace cuffs.
History & Provenance
The portrait Madame Adélaïde of France Holding a Fan was painted in 1752 by Jean-Marc Nattier.
It entered the collection of the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles, where it remains today with inventory number MV 2181 (also listed as INV 6920 and B 878). The work’s dimensions are 103 cm in height and 120 cm in width.
The portrait is held in the collections of the Palace of Versailles under the inventory number MV 2181 (also recorded as INV 6920 and B 878).
It has been exhibited at the Palace of Versailles, within the Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon, where it remains located.
Overview
The canvas presents a solitary female figure positioned before a dark, patterned backdrop. She holds an ornate fan in her right hand while her left arm rests lightly on a nearby chair. Dressed in a pale gown with puffed sleeves, a deep V‑neck and delicate floral motifs, she is accented by gold‑trimmed collar and cuffs, and her softly curled hair is adorned with a small flower.
Context
Portraits of royal women during this period were commonly commissioned to affirm dynastic presence and personal virtue. Madame Adélaïde’s attire, featuring lace and embroidered details, reflects contemporary fashion trends among the French aristocracy, where intricate textiles signified status and taste. The painting thus functions both as a personal likeness and as a visual record of courtly dress and decorum.
Artist & collection
- Madame de La Porte
Madame Adélaïde de France (1732–1800), daughter of Louis XV
Marie Josèphe of Saxony
Maria Luisa of Parma (1751–1819), Later Queen of Spain
Adélaïde of France Tying Knots
Madame Sophie of France
Portrait of Mariana Victoria of Spain (1718-1781)
Mlle. Marguerite Catherine Haynault, later the Marquise de Montmelas in Turkish Costume
Françoise Marguerite de Sévigné, Grignanin kreivitär
Portrait of Princess Louise Marie of France (1737-1787)
Madame Louise of France
Tanskan kuningatar Louise
