An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Portrait of Catherine Coustard, Marquise of Castelnau, Wife of Charles-Léonor Aubry with Her Son Léonorc. 1700
Artist: Nicolas de Largillière
French, 1656 - 1746
Portrait. Madame Aubry wears an ultramarine blue velvet dress, cloak lined with flowered brocade and a bodice of silver lamé with lace and rose ribbon. Her hand touches a whippet which may have belonged to the artist as it appears in other portraits. Her hair is styled à la Fontanges. She married into a family from Tours and later became the Marquise de Castelnau in the Berry region near Bourges.
53 1/4 x 40 3/4 in. (135.26 x 103.51 cm) (sight)
70 1/2 x 58 x 5 in. (179.07 x 147.32 x 12.7 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on canvas
Painting
France
17th-18th century
The John R. Van Derlip Fund
In the heart of Paris, in the late 17th century, there thrived a sense of prosperity and lineage that wove through the lives of its inhabitants. Among them was Catherine Coustard, born into a family of prosperous cloth merchants. Her life was rich when it began—filled with colors, textures, and the hustle of bustling markets. But as time danced onward, she found herself intertwined with the Aubry family, a clan of affluent civil servants and statesmen hailing from the charming region of Tours.
In a beautifully painted scene, we see Catherine seated, adorned with the serene elegance of a contented mother. A soft, warm smile plays upon her lips, the kind that reflects a deep sense of fulfillment—a joy mirrored in her clear gaze. Her son, innocent and full of life, leans across her lap, radiating a bond that words cannot convey. The love and care emanating from this moment are palpable, as if you could sink into the warmth of their embrace and feel the pulse of familial joy.
Yet, this moment is not merely a portrait; it tells the story of triumph and evolving fortune. Just when one might think that happiness had reached its peak, fate had other plans. At the time this artful image was captured, Catherine’s fortunes shifted yet again, blossoming even further. Her father-in-law, after dedicating two decades of loyal service as the king's secretary, witnessed a great honor bestowed upon him—he was elevated to nobility, a significant leap in the status of the Aubry family.
In this picturesque representation of hope and fortune, we find a reflection of life’s ever-changing tides, where every smile, every embrace, commemorates not just personal joy, but the intricate tapestry of familial legacy that continues to shape destinies. The portrait does not just capture a moment; it immortalizes the very essence of prosperity, pride, and the beautiful connections that arise from love and lineage. In Catherine Coustard’s serene visage, we find a timeless testament to the quiet strength of a woman at the heart of a noble ascent.
About the artist
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