An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Funeral for Marie-Thérèse of Spain, Dauphine of France, in the Church of Nôtre Dame, Paris, on November 24, 1746c. 1746
Charles-Nicolas Cochin
As an official draftsman to the king, Charles-Nicolas Cochin was responsible for documenting royal events, festivities, and ceremonies. When the Spanish princess Marie-Thérèse, wife of Louis XV’s eldest son, died in childbirth, she was given two lavish funerals: one at the Church of Saint Denis, and another, represented in this drawing, at Notre Dame in Paris. Cochin’s drawing shows how the interior of the gothic cathedral was theatrically redecorated in the current rococo style. Beneath the majestic canopy in the center of the nave, an ornate arched structure, a <em>baldequin,</em> contains the princess’s coffin.
Charles-Nicolas Cochin worked closely with the branch of the royal household charged with organizing and presenting royal ceremonies to produce prints such as the one related to this drawing.
Pen and black ink and gray wash heightened with white gouache on cream laid paper, incised (with graphite) for transfer
Sheet: 45 x 30.9 cm (17 11/16 x 12 3/16 in.)
John L. Severance Fund
In the heart of 18th-century France, an atmosphere of solemn grandeur enveloped the nation. Among the whispers of history, one name stood out: Charles-Nicolas Cochin. As the official draftsman to the king, Cochin bore the unique responsibility of capturing the essence of royal life—the grand celebrations, elaborate ceremonies, and the intimate moments that shaped the kingdom.
One particularly tragic chapter unfolded when Marie-Thérèse, the Spanish princess and beloved wife of the Dauphin, tragically lost her life during childbirth. This heart-wrenching event sent ripples across the court, filling the air with grief and disbelief. In honor of her memory, the princess was bestowed with two opulent funerals, a rare tribute to her short but impactful life.
The first occurred within the hallowed grounds of the Church of Saint Denis, a sacred space echoing the footsteps of generations of French royalty. Yet it was the second, held at the awe-inspiring Notre Dame in Paris, that captured Cochin's artistic spirit.
With pen in hand and an eye for the sublime, he immortalized the grandeur of that day in a drawing rich with detail and emotion. The gothic arches loomed like ancient sentinels, their delicate forms draped with the elegance of the rococo style that flowed through every corner of the cathedral. The space was transformed into a theatrical panorama, where sorrow was adorned with beauty.
At the center of this magnificent setting, beneath a radiant canopy that rose dramatically into the heights of the nave, the <em>baldequin</em> stood as a testament to the life lost too soon. It cradled the princess’s coffin, a symbol of both her royal status and the profound sadness felt by a nation.
Cochin’s drawing did more than record an event; it weaved a story that resonated with those who beheld it. It reminded them of fragility and loss, and how even in grief, beauty and dignity could converge, echoing through the ages. Through his artistry, the princess was enshrined, not just in memory, but in the very stones of Notre Dame, leaving a legacy that whispered through the cathedral for generations to come.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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