Portrait of the Grand Dauphin, Louis of France, circa 1700

Very beautiful oil on canvas, representing the Grand Dauphin in a three-quarter bust.
He wears an abundant powdered wig, a purple velvet cape, over his rich damascened iron armor which is barred with the cord of the Order of the Holy Spirit.
Workshop of Alexis Simon Belle around 1700.
Good state of conservation.

Gilded wooden frame "à la Bérain"

Measurements: Height: 74cm; Width: 61cm

Louis de France, known as Monseigneur, or the Grand Dauphin after his death, was born in Fontainebleau on November 1, 1661 and died in the Château de Meudon on April 14, 1711. Eldest son of Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse of Austria, destined to Succeeding his father, Monsignor the Dauphin benefited from a specific education and training that Louis XIV wanted the most accomplished. Monsignor took part in several military campaigns between 1688 and 1694, including the glorious capture of Philippsburg in 1688. He died at the age of 49 without ever having reigned.

Alexis Simon Belle (Paris 1674 – ?1734) was a pupil of François de Troy and devoted himself to portraiture. Employed by the small court of pretender Jacques Stuart in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, he was admitted to the Academy in 1703 (portrait of François de Troy, Versailles). He executed portraits of many great figures from the courts of France and Poland (Marie Leszczinska and her son, Versailles; Mlle de Béthisy and her brother, id.). He painted in a style that still recalls that of Mignard, his personality tending to give way to that of his models, unlike Rigaud or Largillière.