A portrait of Madame Louise by Jean-Marc Nattier

image: Madame Louise by Jean-Marc Nattier

credit: (C) RMN-Grand Palais (Château de Versailles) / Gérard Blot

This portrait of a young Madame Louise by Jean-Marc Nattier was commissioned by her father, Louis XV, in 1747. At the time of the sitting, Louise was only 10 years old. 

Like many paintings of royal children in court dresses, I think Louise looks much older than her natural years here! Not only does Nattier's style of painting age up the subject (or, in cases of older subjects, make them look younger!) but the elaborate gown seems more befitting of a teenager than a 10 year old child. I do love the ensemble, though. The pearls in her hair, accented by flowers, are very charming.

A portrait of Madame Adelaïde by Jean-Marc Nattier

image: A portrait of Madame Adelaïde by Jean-Marc Nattier
credit: (C) RMN-Grand Palais (Château de Versailles) / Gérard Blot

Jean-Marc Nattier is best known for his exquisite portraits of women from the court of Louis XV. Nattier was renowned for both his traditional court portraits as well as his allegorical portraits, which often depicted women as mythological goddesses, muses and other figures.

Nattier not only painted many high-ranking ladies who once roamed the halls of Versailles--he was also frequently commissioned to paint portraits of the royal family, including the daughters of Louis XV.

This portrait of Madame Adelaïde was completed in 1758. For this portrait, Adelaïde is depicted wearing a luxurious blue gown trimmed in fur, which was a favorite among the French royals. Like most royal women, she has been painted in a setting that reminds the viewer of her station as a daughter of the King. But it's the other details in this portrait that I find the most compelling. I think the inclusion of a musical instrument, sheet music and a small dog add a softer touch to the portrait that make it feel more personal and less symbolic. 

 

image: Detail from a portrait of Madame Adelaïde by Jean-Marc Nattier
credit: (C) RMN-Grand Palais (Château de Versailles) / Gérard Blot

 

image: Detail from a portrait of Madame Adelaïde by Jean-Marc Nattier
credit: (C) RMN-Grand Palais (Château de Versailles) / Gérard Blot

I believe this may be a papillion, or a similar type of spaniel. There is a similar dog (which, I believe, is positively identified as a papillion!) in a family portrait of Louis XIV, so perhaps smaller spaniel breeds were popular in the French court of the 17th-18th centuries. It certainly seems like Madame Adelaïde's spaniel is making a mess of her fallen sheet music!