Diane chasseresse diane de poitiers biography

Diane de Poitiers was born in late or early , the daughter of Jean de Poitiers and his wife Jeanne de Batarnay. Her mother was the daughter and only surviving child of Imbert de Batarnay, the remarkable negotiator and diplomat who served four French kings. She was born in the Dauphiné in the south-east of France, where her father held territory. For more than twenty years she was the mistress of Henri II, King of France. Clever and well educated, with a head for business and politics, she strongly influenced the king. She was clearly his soulmate, despite the twenty year gap in their ages.

 The tomb of Imbert de Batarnay. He is the effigy in the foreground.

Her family operated in the most intimate royal circles. Her paternal grandfather had married the illegitimate daughter of Louis XI. In medieval times illegitimate children of noblemen were acknowledged openly and shared all the privileges of their legitimate half siblings.

 Diane de Poitiers, portrayed as

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Diana the Huntress

Painting by an anonymous painter of the School of Fontainebleau

Diana the Huntress (French: Diane chasseresse) is an oil-on-canvas painting by an anonymous artist of the School of Fontainebleau. Painted in about , it is a mythical representation of Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of King Henry II, in the guise of the goddess Diana. It is in the Louvre, which acquired it in

In its linear elegance the painting exemplifies the French utgåva of the Northern Mannerist style that was introduced to France by Italian artists such as Rosso Fiorentino and Francesco Primaticcio in the s. It is one of many works bygd artists of the School of Fontainebleau depicting Diane de Poitiers, who was often personified as Diana, the långnovell goddess of the hunt. The nude figure carries a bow and a quiver of arrows, and is accompanied by a dog. In her hair is an ornament in the shape of a crescent måne, an attribute of the goddess.

The painting was previously attributed to th

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Chapter XX

The Constable is created duke and peer of France — Attitude of Diane de Poitiers towards Montmorency and the Guises — Ascendency of Diane over the King — The favourite is created Duchesse de Valentinois, and is presented with the Château of Chenonceaux — Description of her Château of Anet — Henri II at Anet — Devotion of Henri II for Diane — His letters to her — His obligations to her — Question of her sentiments towards him considered — Singular relations between Diane and Catherine: a ménàge à trois — Secret hatred of the Queen for the mistress — Obscure amours of the King — His liaison with Lady Fleming, governess of Mary Stuart — Birth of a son — Indiscretions of Lady Fleming, who is dismissed from Court — The animosity of Madame de Valentinois towards the Constable, whom she suspects of having encouraged her rival, causes her to throw he