Oil on canvas, 122.5cm by 95.25cm.
Madame de Maintenon was governess to the legitimized children of Louis XIV of France and his mistress Madame de Montespan for some years.
She is believed to have become Louis’s second wife in 1683/4, and although this was never officially acknowledged, she became very influential and enjoyed great status at the French Court.
The portrait is a copy after the original which hangs at Versailles, France.
