183 - Philippe VIGNON (1638–1701), circle of

Philippe VIGNON (1638–1701), circle of Presumed portrait of Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, Marquise de Montespan Oil on oval canvas H_40 x W_33 cm Restorations Philippe Vignon was the son of Claude Vignon, a leading figure in French painting during the Grand Siècle. Along with his brother Claude François Vignon, he trained in his father’s studio before entering the Royal Academy with a portrait of the sculptor Philippe de Buyster and another of the landscape painter Henri Mauperché (now in the collection of the Palace of Versailles). He appears to have subsequently settled in England, as upon his father’s death he was serving as court painter to the King of Great Britain. While the portraits he painted of his fellow artists are imbued with a great deal of naturalism, the paintings commissioned by the aristocracy feature graceful, fresh, and doll-like faces—in short, idealized. The Marquise de Montespan (1640–1707), born Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, was one of the most famous figures at the court of Louis XIV. Having become the Sun King’s favorite in the 1660s, she wielded significant influence at court and gave birth to several children, some of whom were legitimized by the king. Renowned for her wit, beauty, and culture, she remains an iconic figure of the splendor and intrigues of 17th-century Versailles.