Portrait of King Louis Xiii of France and Navarre C.1611; Circle of Frans Pourbus the Younger (1569–1622), Antique Oil on Canvas Painting

This jewel-like portrait represents King Louis XIII of France and Navarre. The resplendent doublet and elaborate openwork lace standing collar were expensive items and as such important markers of his wealth and status. On the chain is the badge of the ancient honor of chivalry, the L’Ordre de Saint-Esprit (Order of The Holy Spirit) – founded in 1578 for the nobility.

The portrait was painted circa 1611 when Louis was about 10 years old and at the time Frans Pourbus the Younger became Maria de Medici's court painter in Paris. The artist depicted Louis as Dauphin and also as King on several occasions.

Louis XIII was born in 1601 at the Château de Fontainebleau in France. He was the eldest son of King Henri IV and his second wife, Marie de’ Medici. When his father died and he became King, his mother Marie de’ Medici was appointed Regent, to serve until he became of age. Despite reaching his majority in 1614, his mother continued to exert her influence as Regent, deeming her son “too weak in body and spirit”.

It would be several years before Louis asserted his authority. In April 1617, he organised a coup d’état, ousting his mother’s primary minister Concino Concini and sending his mother into exile. He replaced Concini with his favorite advisor, Charles d’Albert, Duke of Luynes. One of the first challenges in his reign was the Thirty Years’ War which began in 1618, in which there was much disagreement on which side the French should support. There was also growing disagreement with Luynes and his actions. These all led to a rebellion against the King, led by his own mother who had escaped from exile. Through the influence of the Duke of Richelieu (later Cardinal), Louis and his mother were reconciled, and within a few years, he permitted her to return to the French court. By 1624, Louis was now ruled by council and Cardinal Richelieu was taking a more prominent role in the King’s reign.

In 1612, at just eleven years old, Louis became betrothed to Anna of Austria, in keeping with the tradition of inter-marriages between the French and Spanish monarchies. She was the daughter of King Felipe III of Spain and Margaret of Austria. The couple was married by proxy on October 18, 1615, in Burgos, Spain. The same day, Louis’s sister Elisabeth was married to Anna’s brother, the future King Felipe IV of Spain. Following Anna’s arrival in France, the couple married in 1615. After four stillborn children, and 23 years of marriage, the couple had two sons: King Louis XIV of France (1638-1715) (who married Maria Theresa of Spain), and Philippe I, Duke of Orléans (1640-1701) (who married Henrietta of England).

After several weeks of intense illness, King Louis XIII died in Paris on May 14, 1643. He was interred at the Basilica of St. Denis near Paris, France with very little pomp or ceremony as was his wish that the French people were not be subjected to any excessive or unnecessary expense due to his death.

Frans Pourbus was from a family of painters from the Netherlands and was one of the leading court portraitists in Europe. He trained in Bruges before moving to Antwerp and then to Brussels where he worked for Archduke Albert and the Infanta Isabella. Later he was in Mantua, working for Vincenzo I Gonzaga. Marie de' Medici summoned him to Paris in 1609 and appointed him as her court painter, a position he held until his death. In 1616, he also became court painter to Louis XIII. His work is in the Royal Collection, the National Museum in Warsaw, the Louvre, the Prado, the Rijksmuseum, the Royal College of Art, the Metropolitan Musem of Art.

Presented in a gilded antique frame.

This painting has passed a strict quality and condition check by a professional conservator prior to going on sale ensuring very good condition.

Provenance: Private collection France

Much more info about this item at: www.titanfineart.com

In a market saturated with available paintings, Titan Fine Art offers a distinct advantage: we sift through thousands of works to provide a specially curated selection. Each piece is meticulously chosen based on technical merit, provenance, and decorative appeal, ensuring our clients view only the finest examples of British and European art.

With over 20 years of expertise and 1,000+ works placed with collectors and institutions, we are one of the most prolific specialists in 17th and 18th-century portraiture. We combine a scholarly approach with museum-level rigor to replace the uncertainty of the open market with absolute confidence.

Why Buy From Titan Fine Art?

• Expertly Curated Selection

We act as your expert eye, selecting only high-quality works that offer genuine historical and artistic value.

• Museum-Level Research

Each portrait is supported by extensive academic research, often exceeding 40 hours, to establish attribution, sitter identity, and historical context.

• Professional Conservation

All paintings are carefully cleaned and stabilised by professional conservators, and are presented ready to hang.

• Transparent Pricing

No buyer’s premium or hidden fees—unlike auction houses, where additional costs can add 25–35%.

• Export Pricing Advantage

Reduced pricing is available for works exported outside the UK.

• Specialist Global Shipping

We manage the entire process, including custom crating, export documentation, and fully tracked delivery worldwide.

• Buy with Confidence

A 7-day return policy and the option to pay in GBP, USD, or EUR for convenience and transparency.

• Original Period Frames

Many works retain their original carved and gilded frames, which are works of art in their own right and enhance both historical authenticity and decorative impact.

• Personal Advisory Service

We work directly with collectors and interior designers, offering guidance on selection, scale, and placement—including bespoke room mock-ups on request.

Subscribe to our monthly 'new item alert' to be the first to hear about new works