Prince louis and his two sisters jeanne and victoire in the book of hours of catherine de medici, bnf
louis de france is the second son of henri ii and catherine de medici. Born in february 1549, he died prematurely in october 1550. If there were original portraits of the young prince, none seem to have reached us (see les clouet de catherine de médicis by zvereva). The only remaining image of him is said to be a miniature from catherine de medici's book of hours. The bnf database tells us that the little boy with folded hands represents the future charles ix, but we can assume that it is rather prince louis. Catherine de medici wanted to have in her book of hours, the portrait of all her children, but charles ix is already represented on another folio. In addition, the young prince is represented here with two other children of the queen who died at a young age. The artist who painted the book of hours around 1573 would therefore have grouped the queen's children who died prematurely on a single page. Date: 16th century. Collection: Bibliothèque nationale de France.
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