“Diana the huntress”, Fontainebleau school

Large oil on canvas representing Diane accompanied by her dog.

The Fontainebleau School is characterized by Italianism, a taste for abundant and refined ornamentation, symbolic references as well as a new sensuality – for France – in the representation of the body.

Circa 1580-1600

Fontainebleau School

“Portrait of princess” by Jean Ducayer, vers 1640

Portrait of Princess Anne-Géneviève de Bourbon, Duchess of Longueville (1619-1679), daughter of the Prince of Condé and Charlotte de Montmorency. Oil on octagonal panel by Jean Ducayer, painted after a work by François Clouet.

Around 1640

“Saint John the Baptist” on alabaster, 19th century

Painting on alabaster depicting Saint John the Baptist pointing with one hand towards a lamb and holding in another hand the pastoral staff in the shape of a cross with an inscription ‘Ecce agnus Dei’ – ‘Behold the Lamb of God’, wooden frame polychrome sculpted.

19th century

France

Rococo screen, 18th century

Large six-leaf screen in painted canvas, panels decorated with a motif inspired by Chinoiserie, as was fashionable in the mid-18th century, reverse decorated with simple trompe l’oeil panels.

 

Portrait of a man in a “banyan” surrounded by André Bouys (1656-1740)

The banyan, inspired by oriental dressing gowns, was worn for its comfort and casual elegance.

The subject’s richly decorated orange silk scarf and silver-embroidered vest illustrate this fashion well. This style reflects the influence of cultural and commercial exchanges with the Orient, as well as the importance given to appearance and social status in the society of the time.