Portrait of Philippe of France, Duke of Orléans
by CORNEILLE, Michel I, Oil on canvas, 124 x 109 cm
The sitter of this portrait is Philippe of France, Duke of Orl�ans (1640-1701), the younger son of Louis XIII of France and his wife, Anne of Austria, brother of Louis XIV, wearing armour with fleur-de-lys of the Sash of the Order of the Holy Spirit.
During the reign of his brother he was known simply as Monsieur, the traditional style at the court of France for the younger brother of the king. He married twice fathering several children, thus founding the House of Orl�ans, a cadet branch of the ruling House of Bourbon.