Nicolas de Largillière
Hello, today is the second day of our new series - DailyArt presents works from the Europeana Collection. For the next four weeks on Mondays, we will show you four pieces of art showing beautiful examples of fashion. Please enjoy!
According to tradition, the portrait shows Marie-Louise Elisabeth d'Orléans, duchesse de Berry, as Flora. Largillière favoured painting women using allegorical motives such as Flora, most often referred to as allegory of spring. In the portrait he utilizes fully his extraordinary and highly finished flower painting skills, while also capturing the Duchesse´s character, her delicate and subtle smile. The duchess wears an interpretation of a peasant costume, the clear difference being the golden decorations of her gown. The brilliant cherry red and royal blue of the dress are colours repeated in the surrounding flowers and in a garland held by the picture’s figure.