Hyacinthe Rigaud

Research Status: Basic Last Updated: 2025-01-23 Diary Coverage: Up to 1880-10-24

Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659-1743) was a French baroque portrait painter, most famous for his portraits of Louis XIV and other members of the French royal family and aristocracy. His style epitomized the grandeur and magnificence of the Louis XIV era.

Rigaud was renowned for his skill in painting sumptuous fabrics, particularly brocades, velvets, and other rich materials. His portraits combined baroque drama with precise attention to costume detail and luxurious materials.

When Marie visits the Louvre in October 1880, she expresses her love for the 18th century aesthetic, saying she would love to bury herself in "the gauzes of Watteau and Greuze and the brocades of Rigaud" - revealing her attraction to the refined elegance and material luxury of that era.

Most famous work:

• Portrait of Louis XIV (1701) - the iconic image of the Sun King

Style characteristics:

• Grand, formal compositions
• Masterful rendering of luxurious fabrics (especially brocades)
• Rich, deep colors
• Aristocratic dignity and magnificence
• Precise attention to costume and regalia