Equestrian Portrait Of Philippe d'Orléans

Equestrian portrait of Philippe d'Orléans in an antique carved and gilded wood frame with foliate motifs. The king's nephew brandishes his baton of command, dressed in Roman attire and leading a cavalry charge. The horse, with its brilliant coat, rears up, and the prince's billowing cloak capture the light in their movement. A wild landscape stretches in the background of the painting.
French School, 18th century. Oil on canvas.
Fair condition, canvas restoration planned.
H. 131 x W. 107 cm (with frame).
114 x 86 cm (sight size).
Created in 1694 by Pierre Mignard, the original composition from which our painting derives is a direct continuation of the equestrian portrait of Louis XIV that the artist had painted in 1674. This model combined, in an unprecedented way, the tradition of the equestrian portrait with the iconography of the Roman general, a prestigious formula then strictly reserved for the sovereign. The king, however, granted his nephew, Philippe d'Orléans, the privilege of reprising this emblematic composition. Once completed, his equestrian effigy was installed at the Palace of Versailles, placed opposite that of the monarch, thus affirming the exceptional rank conferred upon him. Versions depicting Philippe d'Orléans remain extremely rare today, as is the case, more broadly, with portraits of the future Regent during his early years. Our work therefore stands out as one of the very few known variations of the equestrian portrait originally executed for Versailles.