Joseph Ducreux, 1769.
Well, the REAL trivia here is the fact that King Louis XV would not consent to a royal marriage between his grandson, Louis Auguste, and Empress Maria Teresa’s youngest daughter, Maria Antonia, until her looks were brought up to French standards. He sent his own painter to Vienna to document the archduchess’ transformation.
Unfortunately the original 1769 portrait deemed “française” enough was lost, Ducreux brushed this copy later that year. The archduchess was deemed dauphine material and the plans for the royal wedding proceeded.
Source: Weber, Caroline. Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution. New York: Picador, 2006.
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