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Portrait of Marie-Thérèse, Queen of France
(Baroque Europe )
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.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
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.
Exhibitions
| 1995 | The Allure of Bronze. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Geographies
France, Paris (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 19 1/2 in. (49.5 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1912
Location in Museum
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
27.414