This splendid late 17th-century half-length portrait depicts a young lady wearing a red velvet mantua embroidered in gold, together with a white chemise and cloak.Produced around 1695, it’s conceivable that the sitter here is attired in an outfit befitting the lavish ornamentation of Louis XIV’s court. During the extravagant reign of the ‘Sun King’, courtiers were expected to invest significantly in their appearance (often to the point of bankruptcy) to demonstrate their abundant wealth.Versailles was the European capital of opulence and the ultimate symbol of absolute power - strict fashion rules needed to be adhered to regardless of comfort or practicality.The young lady''s hair is styled accordingly into a ‘fontange coiffure’, whereby the front of the hair is curled and piled high above the forehead. On occasion, this required a wire framework to support it.Stylistically, the nuances of the handling resemble the works of French court painter Pierre Gobert (1662-1744)...