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Portrait of Francis I, King of France

c. 1532-1533
Joos van Cleve (Netherlandish (active Antwerp and France), c. 1485–died 1540/41)
Francis I possibly commissioned this portrait in connection with his second marriage, to Eleanor of Austria, or in commemoration of a meeting with King Henry VIII of England. During his long reign (1515-1547) Francis established France as a center of the arts and attracted many famous artists to his court, including Leonardo da Vinci, whose last years were spent there.

Object Details

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