Francis I (1494–1547), King of France
Joos van Cleve
Date unknown · Oil on canvas, transferred from wood · European Paintings
King of France from 1515 to 1547, Francis I is sumptuously dressed in the latest court fashion and holding the golden pommel of a sword in his left hand. The shimmering quality of his costly red doublet is achieved by an expensive technique—a layer of silver leaf placed beneath a translucent glaze of red lake. Such portraits were produced in multiple versions to distribute to various European courts, such as those of Henry VIII and Charles II of Spain.
- Artist
- Joos van Cleve
- Date
- Date unknown
- Medium
- Oil on canvas, transferred from wood
- Department
- European Paintings
- Credit line
- The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
