PORTRAIT OF MARIE ANTOINETTE AND CHILDREN

Creator(s): Unknown (Painter) , Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Lebrun (After)

On view in: Marjorie Post's Bedroom Hall

About this object

Marie Antoinette is seated holding the Duke de Normandie with Madame Royale beside her and the Dauphin standing beside a cradle lifting a curtain. Marie Antoinette wears a red dress trimmed with fur, with a white fichu at the neck and lace collars and cuffs. Her hair is powdered gray and her hat is composed of a white scarf surmounted by a cap in red and fur to match the dress and white plumes. She wears earrings composed of large stones. Madame Royale has a plum colored dress with a blue sash. The Dauphin wears a yellow suit with lace collar and cuffs, white stockings and black shoes. His violet colored sash has a gold fringe. He wears also the blue sash and the star of the order of St-Esprit. All the children have brown hair and blue eyes. The cradle, covered with blue velvet showed in the cradle in the original portrait Sophie Helene Beatrix who died before the picture was completed and her portrait was painted out. The group is in the gallery at Versailles with columns and a blue curtain in the background and the jewel cabinet of Marie Antoinette at the right. The rug appears to be an Aubusson with scrolls and roses, the cushion underneath Marie Antoinette's feet is in blue with gold embroidery and tassels.

Object name:

PORTRAIT OF MARIE ANTOINETTE AND CHILDREN

Made from:

Oil on canvas

Made in:

FRANCE

Date made:

after 1787

Size:

Unframed: 28 1/2 × 23 1/4 in. (72.4 × 59.1 cm) Framed: 35 × 30 1/4 × 3 in. (88.9 × 76.8 × 7.6 cm)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:

51.8

Class:

PAINTING

Signature marks:

LABEL Russian label and inventory number FE7499 [on back]

Credit line:

Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973