'Mazarin'

Photograph of a painting by Paul Delaroche, created in 1830 as pendant to 'Richelieu' (see RCIN 2160756). First shown at the Paris salon of 1831, the painting is now on display at The Wallace Collection (Inv. no. P314). The work presents Cardinal Mazarin (1602-61) lying on a four-poster bed placed along the left wall of a lavish bedroom. The Cardinal’s head turns to the right to look at a set of playing cards held by a young woman seated in an armchair beside him. The woman is part of a four-player’s card game, with the partners sitting opposite each other around a table. Additional figures include the Cardinal’s niece Maria Mancini (1638-1715) at the far right and the Spanish ambassador at the centre.