Marble bas-relief depicting a bust of Louis XI. His head is covered by his famous hat, here made of hair and placed on a bonnet, and he is wearing the collar of the Order of Saint-Michel, which he founded in 1469. Late 16th century H. 38 cm - L. 25.5 cm Formerly presented on an oak panel (missing the sign that once adorned the hat, fixing holes). This is a finely crafted portrait of the sovereign, taking on the characteristics of the famous profile of the King of France as depicted in several paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries. It is thought that this profile, with its signet-brimmed hat and ear-covering bonnet, as well as the shell collar of the Order of Saint-Michel, was inspired by a lost original attributed to Jean Fouquet. The quality of this portrait can be compared with a profile of King Henri II, of comparable proportions (36 cm x 31 cm), also executed in white marble, which is preserved in the collections of the Musée National de la Renaissance in Ecouen (inv. EC84, fig.). Dated to the end of the 16th century and most likely part of a series of portraits of the kings of France, it is thought to have come from the château of Antoine de Sarlant, maître d'hôtel to Catherine de Médicis, in Auvergne (Puy-de-Dôme). It is therefore quite possible that this portrait of Louis XI was part of the same series.