On May 27, the Louvre preempted in Paris at Christie's a new portrait of Mazarin. For 206,000 euros, this sheet has just joined the museum's graphic arts department. It is completely legitimate.
Mazarin? The cardinal, who was the godfather and mentor of Louis XIV, returns as a neighbor, and like someone who knew these walls well. Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino, naturalized French and now Jules Mazarin (1602-1661), had his palace on the site of the National Library, a stone's throw away. There he established formidable galleries of art, antiques, books, a good part of which after his death followed the impetus centralizing impulse, gaining via Colbert the royal collections, base of our nationals.
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The other advantage of this surprisingly fresh leaf, in which pastel delicately enhances the black stone, is that it is by Simon Vouet, the man who taught Louis XIII to draw. The Louvre also keeps a pastel representing one of his friends from this royal pupil
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