Portraits of the French monarchs and members of their courts

George IV’s intense interest in seventeenth-century France led him to collect portraits of the French monarchs and members of their courts, ranging from full-size sculpture to these smaller-scale representations. He favoured works by the enamel painter Petitot, buying some 50 miniatures by the artist, of which at least 27 portrayed Louis XIV. Many of these enamels were set into snuffboxes.