FRANCE. XVII. CENTURY. THE QUEEN’S CARBAGE. THE KING AND THE OFFICERS IN THE LIVERY OF THE ROYAL HOUSE.
The fragments shown here are borrowed from a painting by Van der Maulen (1632-1690) depicting the entry of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa into Arras after the beginning of the campaign in 1667.
Maria Theresa, surrounded by her ladies of honour, sits in a gilded state carriage drawn by six horses. Louis XIV follows on horseback in uniform: skirt of gold brocade; waistcoat and trousers red; long muslin tie; bandelier, over it a sash; feather hat; jackboots.
The whole procession is surrounded by the pages and servants of the royal house. Two of them stay to the side of the queen’s carriage, while the others follow to the right and left. Two of the king’s pages, once on horseback, go next to the stirrup and the Gardes du Corps follow
The Marstall of the queen was subordinated to a first stable master, that of the king, the grand stable master. A distinction was made between the large and the small Marstall; the servants of the former had galos en bracelet on their sleeves, i.e. crosswise, and the latter galos en quille, i.e. stripes running from top to bottom.
The Queen’s Marstall contained eight carriages, one of which was reserved for her person. The king’s chariot was drawn by eight horses, those of the courtiers by six, those of the rich citizens by four. Marshal Bassompierre brought the first glass carriage from Italy to France in 1599.
The illustration is taken from the painting by Van der Meulen. Entry of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa into Arras (August 1667); in the Louvre.
Compare La Campagne de la reine ou Lettre galante écrite à des dames de la cour de Monseigneur le Dauphin, 1667. – The State of France of 1676. – D. Ramée, Histoire des chars, carroses, etc. 1856.
Source: History of the costume in chronological development by Auguste Racinet. Edited by Adolf Rosenberg. Berlin 1888.
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