Portrait Of A Woman Known As At Fontange, Oil On Canvas, 17th Century

Portrait of a Woman known as Fontange, Oil on canvas 17th centuryOur portrait represents a lady of the nobility, it is easily dated by the sight of her clothes and also her hairstyle known as Fontange. Very beautiful quality clothing with very precious jewels, Quality portrait from the end of the 17th century. Wooden frame and gilded stucco later Empire period. Oil on canvas formerly restored and relined.History of the hairstyle at Fontange: The Duchess of Fontange had a role at the court of Louis XIV, of which she was one of the mistresses. One day of royal hunting in 1680 a gust of wind messed up the Duchess's hair and she lost her ribbon, so she improvised a new cut, tying it with a ribbon from her garter whose knots fell on the forehead. The king appreciated this hairstyle so much that he asked her not to style her hair differently in the following days. The next day, all the ladies of the court wore their hair in the new style, La Coiffure à la Fontange was born. Dimensions: On view: 69 x 57 cm With frame: 89.5 x 76.5 cm