Antique Costume Print of Louise de Lorraine, Queen of France, 1900

Louise of Lorraine, Queen of France, handcoloured engraving, ca. 1900

Handcoloured engraving of Louise of Lorraine (1534–1601), wife of King Henry III of France. She is shown in full Renaissance costume, wearing a small cap headdress, upright lace collar, and a surtout richly decorated with pearls and jewels. Her fur-trimmed sleeves and embroidered petticoat highlight her regal appearance, while she holds a lace handkerchief delicately in one hand.

This engraving is a reprint from around 1900, after the celebrated series 'Galerie Française de Femmes Célèbres' originally published in Paris in 1827. The image was originally created by Georges Jacques Gatine after a design by Louis Marie Lanté, based on a 16th-century miniature on vellum preserved in the portfolio of Roger de Gaignières, an important antiquarian and collector.

Though issued later, the print faithfully captures the elegance and detail of the original 19th-century edition, and remains an attractive representation of late Renaissance French court fashion. Collectors of costume history and portrait engravings will appreciate its strong lines and vivid hand colouring, typical of decorative reprints produced around the turn of the 20th century.

Condition: Very good. Light age-related toning. Minor spotting in the margins, not affecting the image. Strong hand colouring, blank verso.

Framing tips: A wide ivory mount paired with a dark wood or gilt frame would emphasize the richness of the crimson dress, while a subtle gold inner border would draw out the jewel tones.

Technique: Handcoloured engraving

Maker: Georges Jacques Gatine after Louis Marie Lanté, reprint Paris, ca. 1900