Paintings
Below, are two (depending on your viewpoint) famous or infamous paintings of Agnes.
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Virgin and Child
by
Agnes Sorel
Artist Unknown
Agnes Sorel (1422 – 1450) became the first queen of fashion and luxury. As one of the
“concubines of the Renaissance monarchs” – she was the mistress of Charles
VII of France – Agnes became the first royal favorite among the people of France. She
played an important political role and exerted an invigorating influence on the king. It
was Agnes who encouraged Charles VII to help Joan of Arc battle the English.
Agnes became famous for a painting, by the
French painter Jean Fouquet (c. 1420- c. 1481), which shows her with one breast uncovered,
a surprising indiscretion, with an infant. The painting was called Virgin and Child. One century later, an anonymous painter portrayed Agnes Sorel in the same
pose; this time, the child was missing. This was particularly erotic because the painting
gave the impression of Agnes undressing. And so, Agnes may have launched the extravagant
fashion of one breast in, one breast out, in the paintings of the time.
In the mid-19th century, Agnes became the
first woman ever to be allowed to wear diamonds, which were extremely rare and greatly
valued. The gem was deemed so precious that women were forbidden – by law – to
wear or posses them before. During this period, only princes, kings and emperors wore the
precious gem because it held a symbol of power, courage and virility. Love and
desire made a shambles of the law. You see, like most women, Agnes loved diamonds and
wanted to wear as many as she could lay her hands on. The king was as
fascinated by Agnes as he was by the precious stone, and the law was conveniently
forgotten.
Although she died at age twenty-eight, Agnes became the symbol of beauty, luxury and intelligence. Rumor had it that Agnes was poisoned by Jacques Coeur (1400-56), an alchemist who circulated counterfeit gold and money with King Charles VII (1403-61). This, however, was never confirmed.
Copyright
Bill Brauker