Page:Biographical catalogue of the portraits at Weston, the seat of the Earl of Bradford (IA gri 33125003402027).pdf/230



No. 8.

MARIE ANNE CHRISTINE, PRINCESS OF BAVARIA.

''Low grey dress, cut square, trimmed with lace. Black headdress and white feather. Necklace and earrings.''

BORN 1660, DIED 1690.

Daughter of Ferdinand, Elector of Bavaria. Born at Munich. Negotiations being set on foot for the marriage of this Princess with the Dauphin of France, King Louis the Fourteenth sent De Troyes to paint a portrait of her, and likewise a confidential envoy to give some description of his future daughter-in-law. The report was satisfactory; for although not a real beauty, Maria Christina possessed great perfection of form, and was lively and agreeable. She was united to Louis, Dauphin of France, in 1680, at Châlons-sur-Marne, where the French court repaired to do honour to the nuptials. Anxious to find favour in the eyes of her father-in-law, she perfectly succeeded in the attempt, for the King found her very accomplished, well-informed, of great conversational powers, and wonderfully ready at repartee, while her easy, unconstrained, though