ESCUELA FRANCESA

(S.XVII)

FRENCH SCHOOL (17th / 18th century) "Portrait of Philip of Orleans, Regent of France"

Oil on canvas. Provenance: Madrid, Marqués de Casa Torres collection (no. 12379); Fabiola de Mora y Aragón (cat. no. 125-B). With their corresponding collection labels attached to the frame. Bibliography: "Photographic references of works of art in Spain. Painting II, Marqués de Casa-Torres collection", J. Lacost, photographer editor, Madrid, 1914, , pl. 42, no. 12379. Although we do not know the remote provenance of this canvas, we know that it belonged to the collection of the Marquis of Casa Torres, both from the label that appears attached to the frame on its back, and from the fact that it was photographed by Lacost in 1914, being registered in the collection catalogue with the number 12379. Here, based on the inscription that appears in the upper right corner, the painting was attributed to Nicolas de Largillière (1656-1746) identifying the portrayed correctly with Philip II of Orleans; regent of the kingdom of France during the minority of his second great-nephew (grandson of his first cousin) Louis XV between 1715 and 1723, in the period known as The Regency. This attribution was maintained when it became part of the collection of Fabiola de Mora y Aragón, queen consort of the Belgians, although the character represented was identified with Philip V of Spain. The portrait partially repeats a model by the French painter Jean-Baptiste Santerre (1651-1717) which, coming from the Royal Collection, is kept in the Museo Nacional del Prado (P002344). Measurements: 76 x 55 cm.