François-hercule Of France, Duke Of Alençon. School Of François Clouet (1520-1572)

Oil on oak panel

“Presented in a so-called “Tabernacle” frame in carved and gilded wood.
The architecture of this type of setting is reminiscent of Greek and Roman temples; it is flanked by two gilded wooden columns ending in Corinthian capitals.
Total dimensions: 55 x 41 cm. The panel alone: 37.5 x 25 cm

In our portrait, François-Hercule of France, Duke of Alençon is represented frontally, in bust, with his head turned very slightly to the left.
He is wearing a black velvet cap with a plume. On the edge, a row of bezel-set precious stones bring additional refinement to this headgear.
Her piped lace ruff is rather short and corresponds to the fashion of the 1570s. It stands out against her brown doublet lit by a gold chain.

The taste for individual portraits appeared in Europe in the middle of the 14th century. He is highly appreciated by the Court. The innovator of this formula was Jean Clouet from Brussels, soon supplanted by his son François, as painter to François I. The composition of these paintings or drawings, attributed to Clouet, of the greatest simplicity, is astonishingly modern: a full-frontal or three-quarter face, where expression is favored, is framed by a few decorative elements, a headdress (toque decorated with feathers or veil) or a very elaborate hairstyle, decorated with jewels and a collar, often made of lace (short ruff or collar); the beginning of a barely sketched bust, a few features to evoke a piece of clothing, a piece of jewelry, complete the portrait.


*François-Hercule of France, Duke of Alençon (1554-1584), fourth son of Henry II and Catherine de Medici.

He is the last son of Henri II and Catherine de Medici. Small in size, he was nevertheless baptized under the name of Hercules, before taking the name of his brother François, who died in 1560. A rebellious prince, he was particularly jealous of his brother Henri d'Anjou who was favored by his mother. Everything contrasts with his brother, his character, his appearance.
        At the Court of Charles IX, he took the lead of the Malcontents party and plotted with Henry of Navarre to establish himself as the king's successor in place of his brother Henry who had become King of Poland. He is finally arrested and held in court under surveillance. Subsequently, humiliated at the Court of his brother Henry III, he fled Paris through a hole in the ramparts. Joined by the Protestants of Navarre, a fifth war of religion then opened, where Francis obtained the “peace of Monsieur” which restored freedom of worship for Protestants. He triumphantly resumes his place at Court by reconciling with his brother. He was then at the height of his political power, and was considered to marry Queen Elizabeth I of England (22 years his senior). In 1579, he was invited by William of Orange to become ruler of the provinces of the Netherlands. However, he suffered a military failure in Antwerp and then died suddenly of tuberculosis in 1584.
His death had a major consequence: as King Henry III had no children, it was Henry of Navarre, leader of the Protestant party, who became the heir presumptive to the crown of France. This situation provoked a radicalization of the Catholic camp in the form of the League, origin of the eighth war of religion (1585-1598), marked by the assassination of the Duke of Guise (1588), the assassination of Henry III (1589 ) and the accession of the king of Navarre, under the name of Henri IV.

A recent cleaning allowed under a thick varnish to discover all the finesse of the line, and light skin tones with a pretty network of fine cracks.

Beautiful state of conservation! Sold with certificate.