Portrait of Marie-Thérèse, Queen of France

Description Louis (1661-1711), as eldest son and heir of the French king Louis XIV, bore the title "grand dauphin." He died before he could take the throne, as did his son, but his grandson became Louis XV. In these well-known companion pieces (with Walters 27.413), of which there are other versions, the dauphin is shown with his mother, Marie-Thérèse of Austria (1638-1683), suggesting that the initial pair was commissioned as a gift for the king. Slightly later casts, such as these, were likely also commissioned as presents. François Girardon was the most eminent sculptor in France during the late 17th century and carried out many commissions for the royal palace at Versailles.

Exhibitions

• The Allure of Bronze. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. 1995.

Provenance Marquis de Beauvoir (per Jacques Seligmann & Co. records [Invoice books, 1910-1919], with WAM acc. no. 27.414); Jacques Seligmann, Paris, by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 30 May, 1912, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters, 1912