Louis XIV: Childhood Clothing


Figure 1.-- This painting shows him as a very young boy wearing a long dress. He is with mother Anne of Austria, Queen of France. This would have been painted about 1639. The pinting was produced by the "Ecole Française de peinture ". We do not know the name of the artist. Notice the future King wears the blue ribbon blue " de l'Ordre du Saint Esprit " wih the tittle " Grand Dauphin de France " It was the only case for a little boy. This Prince of France still wasn't dressed according the " Etiquette ".

HBC has little information at this time on the clothing Louis wore as a boy. There are several portraits of him and Phillipe which provide some information. Available paintings suggest that he wore dresses as a young boy. One painting shows him as a very young boy wearing a long dress. He is with mother Anne of Austria, Queen of France. When he was breeched or the circumstances are unknown. Once breeched he seems to have wore scaled down adult clothing suitable for his station. Dedicated children's clothing was at the time unknown. Another painting shows him with Cardinal Bentivoglio and his young brother Philippe. In this painting Philippe is still wearing a long dress. Dresses in fact tended to be long until the mid-19th century. The little Prince of France here had the tille of Ordre du Saint Esprit and normaly had the obligation to be dressed as a price . In the 18th century in fact they weren't spécific children's clothees. A boy's garments after breeching resembled adult clothing. Dressed as he is, Louis could't be presented at court. This is more of a nursery scene. The children of the king were raised in nursery and didn't take part in court activities.






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Created: 6:19 AM 11/27/2007
Last updated: 6:19 AM 11/27/2007