Portrait of a Lady of court

Delicate portrait of a Lady of court wearing the Fontanges. Facial features, and clarity of the eyes suggest that it could be a rare portrait of Mademoiselle de Fontanges in person (compared with the known portraits of character). She is dressed in a aqua green jeweled, embroidery and highlighted with fine lace on the collar and sleeves. French wok circle of Francois De Troy.

Miss Fontanges: Marie Angélique de Scorraille of Roussille, Duchess of Fontanges (1661 - 1681). At 18, she was the favorite of Louis XIV at the age of 40 years. One day she accompanied the king in hunting, her hair wrapped themselves caught in the branches. Louis XIV found his hair loss and "charming." The next day, all the ladies of the court adopted this new hairstyle: the Fontanges.

François de Troy (1645 - 1730) was born into a family of artists. His father Nicolas, already painter, taught him his art. Under the reign of Louis XIV, it was one of the greatest portraitists of his time alongside Hyacinthe Rigaud and Nicolas De Largillière. Artistic lineage continues with his son Jean-François de Troy who was a great painter.