18th Century French School – Portrait Of Marie-josèphe Of Saxony

Interesting portrait of Marie-Josèphe de Saxe (1731-1767), Dauphine of France and mother of the future Louis XVI, created by the entourage of Donat Nonnotte or Pierre Allais. This oil on canvas (82 x 64.5cm) has been relined and rests on a 19th-century stretcher. The work is presented without a frame. Some usual restorations, old and stable, are to be noted (see photos). Iconography and style: The Dauphine is represented in all the grace and dignity of her rank, according to the tradition of 18th-century court portraits. The treatment of the features and the softness of the modeling recall the refined style of Nonnotte and her entourage, as well as that of Pierre Allais. Historical context: Marie-Josèphe de Saxe (1731-1767), daughter of Augustus III, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, married in 1747 the Dauphin Louis of France, son of Louis XV. She was the mother of many children, including three kings of France: Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X. A pious and cultured woman, she lived at the court of Versailles until her premature death in 1767. This portrait constitutes a precious testimony to the art of 18th-century French portraiture, highlighting a major female figure in the dynastic history of the Bourbons.