Doesn’t it look just like the the cast of Anne of Green Gables?
I love those books! I wanted to wear the clothes, ramble in the woods and gather the flowers, make the food. Everything.
I think Anne is the one in front with the umbrella and the big smile.
When I posted this weeks rate the dress, I was aware that numerous French queens had been painted in dark blue dresses with fleur de lys patterns, and intended to do a whole post about the trend. Then the Lady of Portland House pointed out that the dresses in some of the paintings are very similar.
Too similar. In fact, I think they are the same dress.
Fascinatingly, it looks like Marie de Medici, the Mother in Law of Anne, may have been painted in the dress first:
Workshop of Frans Pourbus, Maria de Medici, Queen of France, 1610-1622, collection of the Rijksmuseum (additional version in the Louvre
And then Anne immediately seized on the idea, and had her own portrait done in the dress, only she got Rubens to do it, so it looked better than Maria’s version (what a way to up your mother in law!).
Peter Paul Rubens, Anna of Austria, Queen of France, mother of king Louis XIV, 1622-1625
Maria got her revenge in two ways.
First, she commissioning Rubens to do an entire series celebrating her life, struggles and triumphs, including a coronation scene with her wearing the dress, painted at the same time as Anne’s portrait.
Peter Paul Rubens, Coronation of Marie de Medici, 1622-1625
And second, she commissioned a (very flattering and improbably youthful) near replica of Anne’s portrait done for herself.
Giovanni Leonardo Henner, after Frans Pourbus the Younger, Marie de Medicis, Queen of France, 1628
Despite Marie’s final fall out with her son, and banishment from France in 1631, Anne had to wait until after Marie’s death in 1642 to the last say. She had herself painted in the dress for a final time in a pose that managed to celebrate her nationalism, her piety, her status, and her children, all in one go.
From the studio of Philippe de Champaigne, Anne of Austria with her children, praying (detail), 1646
What a tale of rivalry and one-upmanship!
Next week: more Queens of France
This is the individual photoshoot I did of Vanessa looking simply stunning in the Juno dress after last Saturday’s talk.
She looked fabulous, it was so fun to have the time to hang out with her, and, for just that final bit of awesomeness, she brought along the amazing Shona of In the Heyday, giving me the opportunity to get to know one of my vintage idols. So exciting!
That train! And I love that a few leaves ended up on it!
What a fabulous profile
I actually love the contrast of the gloves, and wonder if the garland would look good with white roses, instead of blue, for another pop of colour.
One of the ‘tweaks’ I want to do is adding the bertha that is on the inspiration dress.
I think it will add just the right bit of interest to the upper bodice back.
For now, a corsage helps.
Possibly my favourite image from the session
She looks so cool and composed, despite the heat in the greenhouse
Beauty and the (absolutely adorable) beast.
