Louise de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth

Louise de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth

by Pierre Mignard
oil on canvas, 1682
47 1/2 in. x 37 1/2 in. (1207 mm x 953 mm)
Purchased, 1878
Primary Collection
NPG 497

Sitter

Louise de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth (1649-1734), Mistress of Charles II. Sitter associated with 13 portraits.

Artist

Pierre Mignard (1612-1695). Artist associated with 7 portraits.

This Portrait

The Duchess first came to England in 1670 as maid of honour to Charles II's sister, the Duchess of Orleans. She returned a year later to become the king's mistress, a role for which she had the support of the French government in the hope that she would be a diplomatic asset. Created a Duchess in 1673, Louise de Kéroualle was about thirty-three when this portrait was painted. The black slave child holding precious objects emphasises her wealth and position. The depiction of the sea and the inclusion of the coral, shell and pearls suggest a further symbolism: the Duchess, who had borne the king a son (the future Duke of Richmond), is perhaps portrayed as the sea-nymph Thesis, the mother of the hero Achilles.

Linked Publications

Sound Guide
The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 74
Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 43
King, Reyahn; Sandhu, Sukhdev; Walvin, James; Girdham, Jane, Ignatius Sancho: An African Man of Letters, 1997, p. 81
Macleod, Catharine; Alexander, Julia Marciari, Painted Ladies: Women at the Court of Charles II, 2001 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 11 October 2001 - 6 January 2002), p. 149
Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: an illustrated guide, 2000, p. 74
Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 74
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 502
Williamson, David, The National Portrait Gallery's History of the Kings and Queens of England, 1998, p. 119

Subjects & Themes

Children
Diversity
Double portraits
Servants, slaves and attendants