BEAUBRUN, Charles

(b. 1604 Amboise, d. 1692 Paris)

Charles Beaubrun (Bobrun), painter, part of a French family of painters. The earliest known member to be associated with the arts was Mathieu Beaubrun I (c. 1525-97), who was a painter and valet de chambre to Henry IV. Two of his sons - the eldest, Mathieu Beaubrun II (d 1608), and the youngest, Henri Beaubrun I - also became painters and valets de chambre to Henry IV, while a third son, Louis Beaubrun (d 1627), became painter to Anne of Austria and then to Louis XIII. The family is principally remembered for two painters in the next generation, Henri Beaubrun II (1603-1677), generally regarded as the son of Henri I, and his first cousin Charles Beaubrun (1604-1692), the eldest son of Mathieu II. Their careers are virtually indistinguishable. Charles’s younger brother, Michel Beaubrun (d 1642), was also active as a painter.

Portrait of Anne of Austria

Anne of Austria (1601-1666) was queen of France as the wife of Louis XIII, and regent of France during the minority of her son, Louis XIV, from 1643 to 1651. During her regency, Cardinal Mazarin served as France’s chief minister. She is represented in royal costume, seated near a table with her gloves.

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Portrait of Mademoiselle de Montpensier

Charles Beaubrun and his cousin (or perhaps brother) Henri painted rather cold and stiff portraits of grand ladies such as Mademoiselle de Montpensier. The French lordship of Montpensier (named after the village of Montpensier, d�partement of Puy-de-D�me) is located in historical Auvergne. Mademoiselle de Montpensier was a title conferred upon some women of the royal family.

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