Madame Elisabeth

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, October 2007

Elisabeth was the younger sister of Louis XVI. She was a devoted Catholic and very conservative. She was also devoted to her brother. After the outbreak of the Revolution she refused to flee, choosing to stay with Louis and Marie Antoinette and the children. She was with them when they attempted to escape in 1791 and was moved with them to the Temple. She remained with Marie Antoinette and Marie Therese after Louis execution and the Dauphin's removal. Then Marie was taken away also. They were given no news of the fates of Marie or the Dauphin. Finally, nearly 10 months later, they came for Elisabeth. She was taken before the Revolutionary Tribunal, accused of aiding the King's attempted escape and being involved in other plots, as well as molesting her nephew. She was found guilty and was taken to the Conciergerie to await execution. She spent her last night attempting to comfort other facing death. The next day, along with 25 other she was taken to the guillotine. She was sat closest to the steps of the scaffold and had to see and hear all the others executed as she was the last to be guillotined.

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Marie-Therese (Madame Royale)

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, October 2007

Marie-Therese was the eldest child of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and born in 1778. As such she was known as Madame Royale. She was named after Marie Antoinette's mother. She was doted on, especially by her father, and was close to both parents though she was more reserved than Marie Antoinette. She was in her early teens by the time the Revolution led to their imprisonment in the Temple. She could do nothing as first her father, then her brother and then her mother were taken away never to be seen again. She was given no news of their fates. Finaly her aunt Elisabeth was taken too, leaving the 15 year old Marie Therese alone. She scratched into the walls "Marie-Therese is the most unhappy creature in the world. She can obtain no news of her mother; nor be reunited to her, though she has asked it a thousand times." Marie Therese was finally released in 1795, after three years of confinement. The mood of the country had changed and her treatment had improved in the fnal months, but she was irrevocably scarred by the terrible experience. In 1796 she arrived at her mother's childhood home in Vienna.

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Mary Boleyn

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor, gouache and gold ink, October 2007

Mary Boleyn was the elder sister of the more famous Anne Boleyn. She was born in 1499 and stayed in England until 1514, when she went as a Lady-In-Waiting to Mary Rose Tudor to France. Even though Mary Rose left France the next year after the death of her husband Louis XII, Mary stayed on at the French court, partly because her father Thomas was Ambassador. It is believed she was Francis I mistress for a time, and took several other lovers before being ordered back to England. Francis described her as " a great whore". On her return to England in 1519 she became a lady-in-waiting to Katherine of Aragon. In 1520 she was married to Sir William Carey and not long after became King Henry's mistress. It is not clear how long the affair lasted. In 1522 Anne, her sister Anne returned from France. Before long Henry's interest had passed to her. Mary and William had two children, Catherine (who was the mother of Lettice Knollys) and Henry. William died in 1529, leaving Mary with debts and no money. Although the sisters were not close it was Anne who went to her sisters aid, securing her a pension. In 1534 Mary caused a scandal by marrying William Stafford, a commoner with little money. She was banished from Court and disowned by her family,although Anne relented and arranged for money to be sent to her. Anne was executed in 1536, and Mary remained estranged from her family (probably wise as they were in disgrace). She died in 1543.

A print of this painting is available for purchase HERE!

Marguerite de Valois (La Reine Margot)

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, October 2007

Marguerite was one of the daughters of Henry II and Catherine de Medici. Various marriage arrangements were considered for her, though she loved Henri of Guise. Her mother could not allow this so it was arranged for Margot (as she was known) to marry Henry of Bourbon (later Henry of Navarre). The union was an attempt to bring peace between the religions - Margot was Catholic, Henry a protestant Huguenot. The ceremony took place in 1572. When asked if she took Henry as her husband, Margot refused to answer - her brother King Charles forced her head down to nod assent. Then six days later the St. Batholomew's Massacre took place, when thousands of Huguenots were murdered by Catholics, many of whom were in Paris for the wedding celebrations.

Henry was kept a prisoner until he escaped in 1576 and returned to Navarre. It was another three years before Margot joined him there. They led almost separate lives and both had lovers.In 1582 she returned to France but her scandalous reputation meant she was unwelcome there and also at the court of her husband. Eventually in 1586 she was imprisoned by her brother at Auvergne. In 1589 Henry of Navarre became Henry IV of France and Margot Queen. However Henry was keen to have the marriage annulled and to remarry to gain an heir. The annulment was finally granted in 1599, allowing Margot to keep the title of Queen. She continued to have lovers and also wrote her memoirs which were published long after her death but still caused a sensation. After Henry remarried in 1600 she returned to Paris and lived at court until her death in 1615.

Hercule Francois, Duke of Alencon and Anjou

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, October 2007

Born in 1555, he was the youngest son of Henry II of France and Catherine de Medici. Christened Hercule, he changed his name to Francois when he was confirmed. Though I have chosen not to portray him so, a bout of smallpox when a child left him scarred and he also suffered from a slight deformation of the spine. He became heir to the French throne on the death of his brother Charles IX in 1574, and had a volatile relationship with both his mother Catherine and his brother Henri III. In 1579 he entered into marriage negotiations with Elizabeth I and spent several months in England as her guest. Despite being 20 years his senior they grew fond of one another, Elizabeth referring to him as her "frog", though any idea that a union would have borne fruit is frankly ludicrous, and of course it came to nothing.

IN 1580 Anjou signed a treaty naming him Protector of the Liberty of the Netherlands and giving him sovereignty. He arrived in 1582 but Zeeland and Holland refused to recognise him as sovereign. After entering Antwerp with troops in 1583 the city gates were locked behind him. Trapped in the city, 1500 of his soldiers were murdered and Anjou barely escaped with his life. He returned to France in disgrace. In 1584 he became gradually sicker, probably with consumption, and died in June of that year.

Featured Artist Interview On EBSQ

I am a featured artist on the EBSQ site this month (October). You can read the full interview here.

Kathryn

4 x 6 inches, watercolor and gouache, October 2007

A portrait of Kathryn, another Deviant artist who agreed to be painted. You can see the original photo here.