Courtier, Court Lady, Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Austria, Lithograph, 1842

This is an original antique lithograph with hand coloring from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). The upper image shows a gentleman in a tall black hat with a white plume, a lace collar, a green doublet with a gold patterned sash, a yellow cloak over one arm, pink hose and wide topped blue and black boots, gesturing with one gloved hand and holding a cane in the other. Beside him stands a lady in an off the shoulder gown of crimson and white with gold borders and puffed white sleeves, a pearl necklace at her throat. In the lower image the king stands in a long curled wig and a white suit with gold stripes, crimson ribbons and puffed sleeves, a sword at his side; next to him the queen wears an off the shoulder white and gold gown set with blue and crimson jewels, with ribbon trimmed sleeves.

The top margin is lettered "Tom. IV" at the left, "FRANCIA" in the center and "Tav. 22" at the right. The caption under the upper image reads "Signore e Dama di Corte" (lord and lady of the court). The captions under the lower image read "Luigi XIV" (Louis XIV) and "Maria Teresa d' Austria" (Maria Theresa of Austria).

Louis XIV reigned as king of France from 1643 to 1715. In 1660 he married Maria Theresa, daughter of Philip IV of Spain; she is called "of Austria" after the House of Austria, the Habsburg dynasty to which the Spanish royal family belonged.

The pairing of anonymous courtiers with a named royal couple makes this a good choice for anyone interested in the history of French dress.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.