Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and her children
Item
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Title
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Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and her children
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Rights
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© Château de Versailles, Fair Use. Dist. RMN / © Christophe Fouin.
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Creator
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Elisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842)
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Date
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1787
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Description
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Depicted in this portrait is Marie Antoinette, Louis-Charles of France, known as Louis XVII, Marie Thérèse-Charlotte of France, Duchess of Angoulême, Louis-Josesph-Xavier-François of France, Dauphin, and the empty cradle of Sophie-Béatrice of France.
The painting was commissioned to pay homage to King Louis XIV’s grandmother. As Queen Marie Leszczynska was represented in a French-style dress red velvet with trimmed fur. Marie is depicted in a similar fashion in the center of the composition holding her youngest son Louis XVII. Marie Antionette’s expression is bleak showing sorrow. On the left hand side Marie Thérèse is leaning into her mothers arm in a warm embrace. While on the right side Louis-Josesph, (the Dauphin at the time) is by the cradle of Sophie-Béatrice. Sophie-Béatrice had passed away before the painting had finished, portraying this was to gain sympathy from French society. This portrait was also commissioned in an effort to help the public image of Marie Antoinette as a mother figure and to take the light away from her spending habits.
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Format
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Painting. Oil on Canvas. 275.2 x 216.5 cm.
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Publisher
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Château de Versailles
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Contributor
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Madalyn Wnenta
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Identifier
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Château de Versailles. MV 4520
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Subject
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Portrait; Queen; Marie-Antoinette; France; Royal family; children; Dauphin; 1700s; 18th century; French baroque; rococo
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Source
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Jpeg file. Unknown photographer. Château de Versailles Collections. 10/22/25.
https://collections.chateauversailles.fr/?permid=permobj_1478c0e7-fa68-4da5-9b94-dc9eacc2e68a#/query/8786cc56-f884-4ef3-96ba-ef97a41bf502
