Portrait Of A Noblewoman, Oil On Canvas, 18th Century

Portrait of Maria Anna of Bourbon?, oil on canvas, 18th Century

Oil on oval canvas mounted on a rectangular panel

70 × 60 cm

An elegant portrait in an aristocratic style depicting Maria Anna of Bourbon, Légitimée de France, shown in half-length with her face turned toward the viewer.

The lady wears a precious crimson velvet gown with white lace trim and a light blue drape over her shoulders, in the fashion of the first half of the 18th century.

The work stands out for its delicate rendering of the skin tone, the refined definition of the fabrics, and the composed elegance of the formal composition—elements characteristic of Piedmontese court portraiture. The dark background emphasizes the luminosity of the face and the richness of the clothing, in accordance with an iconographic style common in 18th-century celebratory painting.

In good overall condition, with normal surface craquelure consistent with the period.

Marie Anne de Bourbon, Légitimée de France (Vincennes, October 2, 1666 – Paris, May 3, 1739), was the eldest legitimized daughter (fille légitimée de France) of Louis XIV of France and Louise de La Vallière. At the age of thirteen, she was married to Louis Armand de Bourbon, Prince of Conti, becoming Princess of Conti by marriage. A woman of great beauty and her father’s favorite daughter, Marie Anne was widowed in 1685 at the age of 19.

She was Duchess of La Vallière in her own right.