Oil on canvas.In this circa 1660 portrait, a beautiful young sitter is depicted in a fahionable silver dress, made of the finest material, with full loose sleeves, fashionable in the middle of the century. A sheer scarf is knotted into a collar around her shoulders. The hairstyle pulled back and with set corkscrew locks and short ones framing the face is again typical of the 50s and the young lady wears the accessory par excellence – pearls, which was more or less and obligatory accompaniment. France dictated fashions of Western Europe during much of the 17th century and the origin was at the French court and more notably the Bourbon monarchs (Louis XIV to Louis XVI) and trends changed rapidly. France led in this area because England was wracked by civil war and Italy’s days of Renaissance glory were over. France developed into the main political and cultural power and from the mid century European rulers strove to imitate the powerful Sun King. France also became the center ...