Henrietta Anne, Duchess of Orleans

Sitterback to top

• Henrietta Anne, Duchess of Orleans (1644-1670), Daughter of Charles I. Sitter in 19 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Pierre Mignard (1612-1695), Painter and portraitist. Artist associated with 7 portraits.

This portraitback to top

The youngest child of Charles I and Henrietta Maria, Henrietta Anne was born at Exeter during the Civil War, and two years later was smuggled over to France by Lady Dalkeith. Her mother took this deliverance as a sign that the child should be brought up as a Catholic. In 1661 Henrietta Anne married the Duke of Orleans, brother of Louis XIV, but the marriage brought her no happiness. Affectionately attached to her brother Charles II, who addressed her as 'Minette' in his frequent letters, she worked hard and skilfully to bring him to a French alliance. This portrait, thought to be based on an original by Mignard, shows her with a 'King Charles' spaniel, the favourite breed of her brother.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Piper, David, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, 1625-1714, 1963, p. 163
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 470

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Jewellery
• Pets and animals