Portrait of Louise Renée de Keroualle as Magdalene, Pierre Mignard, called Le Romain (Troyes 1612 – Paris 1695), attributed

Portrait of Louise Renée de Penancoët de Keroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth and Aubigny (Brest 1649 - Paris 1734) as Mary Magdalene Pierre Mignard, called Le Romain (Troyes 1612 – Paris 1695), attributed Oil on canvas (97 x 88 cm - in an important gilded frame 132 x 122 cm.) Provenance: Private collection, Naples The complete details of this work can be viewed directly from the following - LINK - The young and attractive noblewoman depicted in this painting is Louise Renée de Penancoët de Keroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth and Aubigny (Brest 1649 - Paris 1734), known for being the favorite mistress of King Charles II for over fifteen years, from whose relationship Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, was born, but above all for having gone down in history as one of Louis XIV's French informants at the English court. The Duchess was a very influential figure at court, promoting French interests and often acting as an intermediary between the King, his ministers, and French ambassadors. After the death of Charles II, this influence quickly waned, forcing her to hastily leave London and renounce all her possessions to return to her homeland, between Aubigny-sur-Nère and Paris, where she died in 1734, remaining always in the King's favor. The peculiarity of the portrait, probably executed after her return to her homeland, is that the noblewoman takes on the guise of a fascinating Mary Magdalene, here represented after her renunciation of earthly goods, her rich clothes, and her jewels, to aspire to heavenly riches. We see her immortalized with her long hair loose over her breast, an intriguing but serene gaze directed at the observer, while she rests her crossed hands, as if in prayer, on the ampoule of scented ointments and the open book, both iconographic symbols. The custom of being portrayed in the guise of Magdalene had been in vogue for women in power in the great European courts since the 16th century, as it represented the most appropriate image to justify the union of power and female virtue. It should be noted that court culture exalted only the positive characteristics of her personality, overlooking or downplaying all references to her sinful past and dissolute life. The work, which in terms of style fits perfectly into 17th-century French portraiture, suggests the pertinent attribution to the Baroque painter Pierre Mignard (Troyes, 1612 - Paris, 1695), whose works were highly praised and earned him a great reputation as a portraitist for the demanding Parisian aristocracy in the era of Louis XIV, and who portrayed the Duchess de Kérouaille on numerous occasions. His first important artistic training took place in the studio of Simon Vouet, after which he moved to Italy for over twenty years before returning to Paris, blending his own style with the influence of Roman classicism. The elegant ease of touch and sensual refinement typical of Mignard, combined with very accurate chiaroscuro rendering, inherited from his artistic training in Rome (which looked to the examples of Ferdinand Voet), and the exceptional sweetness of the drawing, the floridity of the complexion and the almost enameled surfaces, and finally, the peculiar pose of the depicted figure (the beauty of the two intertwined hands is unmistakable), further support our attribution. The condition of the painting is excellent. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The painting is completed by a pleasant gilded frame. The work is sold with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet. We handle and organize the transport of purchased works, both within Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. Contact us for any information, we will be happy to assist you. It is also possible to view the painting in our gallery in Riva del Garda, where we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works. Follow us also on: https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/