Portrait of Maria Anna di Borbone?, oil on canvas, 18th century
Oil on oval canvas mounted on a rectangular panel
70 x 60 cm
An elegant portrait in an aristocratic style, presumably of Maria Anna di Borbone, Légitimée de France, depicted in half-length with her face turned toward the viewer.
The lady wears a precious crimson velvet gown with white lace trim and a light blue drape over her shoulders, in the fashion of the first half of the 18th century.
The work is distinguished by the delicate rendering of the skin tone, the refined definition of the fabrics, and the composed elegance of the formal composition, elements attributable to Piedmontese court portraiture. The dark background emphasizes the luminosity of the face and the richness of the clothing, in accordance with an iconographic style common in 18th-century celebratory painting.
In good overall condition, with natural surface cracking (craquelure) consistent with the period.
Maria Anna di Borbone, Légitimée de France (Vincennes, October 2, 1666 – Paris, May 3, 1739), was the eldest legitimized daughter (fille légitimée de France) of Louis XIV of France and Louise de La Valliere. At the age of thirteen, she was married to Louis Armand de Bourbon, Prince of Conti, becoming Princess of Conti by marriage. A woman of great beauty and her father’s favorite daughter, Marie Anne was widowed in 1685 at the age of 19.
She was Duchess of La Valliere in her own right.
