Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, Count of Toulouse, by the studio of Hyacinthe Rigaud

The Count of Toulouse was the youngest of Louis XIV’s illegitimate children, fathered with his mistress, the Marquise de Montespan. He became Admiral of France at the age of five. He was one of the most important figures at the court of Louis XIV and later at that of Louis XV: he was made Count of Toulouse in 1681, Duke of Penthièvre in 1697 and Duke of Rambouillet in 1711, before becoming Governor of Guyenne and Brittany, Lieutenant-General, Admiral and Grand Huntsman: his fortune was considerable.

As head of the Council of the Navy under Louis XV, he had his portrait painted by Hyacinthe Rigaud around 1708, standing before ships sailing on a rough sea, with his hair blowing in the wind and his finger pointing forward with determination. This painting, the original of which is now lost, was copied on numerous occasions to enable its wider circulation, either in its full version or in a reduced form such as this one, centred on the subject’s face and armoured torso, bearing the insignia of the Golden Fleece, which he had received, and the cord of the Order of the Holy Spirit. 

A leading figure in the monarchy, he was tasked with defending Sicily during the War of the Spanish Succession, Having become Grand Admiral of France, the Count of Toulouse was placed in command of a squadron and secured the recognition of Philip V’s authority in Messina and Palermo in 1702, before defeating an Anglo-Dutch fleet near Málaga two years later. Although wounded, he blockaded Barcelona in 1706, but was ultimately forced to withdraw in the face of the English fleet.

Once considered a potential heir to the throne, he was often seen at his Parisian mansion – now the headquarters of the Banque de France – as well as at his estate in Rambouillet, an ideal spot for hunters. In August 1724, the King came to Rambouillet to hunt deer for the first time, and subsequently made a habit of visiting there very regularly.

A loyal brother to the Duke of Maine, despite the latter’s ambitions and conspiracies, he went down in history with a reputation as a courageous seafarer. Indeed, as a member of the Regency Council from 1715 to 1723, he strove to restore the French navy to its former glory. 

The scathing Saint-Simon describes him as less heroic: ‘a man of very short stature, with a manner as gracious as his naturally cold, yet icy, disposition would allow; possessing courage and a desire to get things done, but by proper means, and in whom a sound and just sense—though quite ordinary—made up for a lack of wit; moreover, he was highly dedicated to understanding his naval and merchant fleets and had a very good grasp of them”.

Whilst the original portrait has still not been located, numerous copies are now held in public collections, including that at the Château d’Aulteribe, whilst other versions regularly appear on the art market. Most recently, a painting depicting the Count of Toulouse, attributed to Rigaud’s workshop rather than to Rigaud himself as at its previous sale in 1996, was put up for sale on 20 September 2020 at Sotheby’s. The subject is depicted in a seascape, wearing the insignia of the Golden Fleece and the cord of the Order of the Holy Spirit across his chest.

Ariane James-Sarazin, Hyacinthe Rigaud, 2 vols., Paris, Faton, 2016.