Portrait of Madame de Pompadour (1721 - 1764) - François Boucher (1703 - 1770), 1756.
Location: Alte Pinakothek, Munich, Germany.
Dimensions: 212 x 164cm.
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, otherwise known as Madame de Pompadour, was the mistress of King Louis XV, as well as a prominent patron of Francois Boucher. Unlike the many other mistresses of the king, Madame de Pompadour continued to be a presence at the court by creating a cordial relationship with the Queen, by accompanying the King on hunting trips and social gatherings, and commissioning paintings of herself, which hid her aging looks. Although she did commission works from other artists, the majority of her portraits were done by Boucher. - Wikiart and Wikimedia Commons.
Historical figures should try being named something other than Louis. Especially the french ones. It's very rude of them to confuse us by all having the same name like that
Medium: Pastel on grey-blue paper, glued onto stretched canvas
Genre: Bust Portrait
Pastel had been used by artists as early as the 15th century. However, it’s use as a proper medium took off in the Baroque and Rococo era and it was used in more mainstream portraits and works. In fact, if you look closely on the arms, you are able to see the hatching on the shine.
Looking at the character of the painting, it is hard not to see the use of the little iris. This symbol was very popular with French Monarch, and for a long time it was a symbol of French nobility and France itself.