Madame Scarron, with the Duc du Maine; apparently by Mignard:  in a very fresh and perfect state.

A fine head of Racine, and similar one of De La Motte.

Mademoiselle de Guiche, Princesse de Monaco; in all probability by Mignard.  Good.

Mademoiselle Hamilton, Comtesse de Grammont; by Mignard.  If the Comte de Grammont chose to fall in love only with beautiful women, he could scarcely, upon his own principles, (which indeed were any thing but moral) have found any one so lovely as was his WIFE.  Yet I have seen handsomer portraits of her than this.

Anne de Gonzague.  She was Princess Palatine, and daughter of Charles Duke of Nevers.  This is a half length portrait.  A garland is in her right hand.  A gay and pleasing picture.

Le Chancelier d’Aguesseau.  By Rigaud.  A fine mellow portrait.

Louis XI.  A whole length; supposed to be by Leonardo da Vinci.  Not very credible.  It is a fine, bold, horribly-looking portrait:  not in the very best state of preservation.

Blaise Pascal.  Very fine.  The artist’s name is not inscribed; but there is a Murillo-like effect about this portrait, which is very striking.  Pascal holds a letter in his hand.

Next to Pascal is a prodigiously fine oval portrait (is it of Fontaine?) by Rigaud.  No name is subjoined.

Comtesse de la Fayette.  A fine countenance:  hands apparently recoloured.  In yellow drapery.

Julie-Lucie d’Augennes, Duchesse de Montausier. She died in 1671.  The portrait is by Mignard.  It represents this celebrated female, when young, encadred by flowers.  The carnation tints of the flesh, and the blue lustre of the eye, have nothing finer in the whole circle of Mignard’s performances.  This is a picture from which the eye is withdrawn with no common reluctance.  It is clear, bright, fresh, and speaking.[183]

The Wife of P. de Champagne.  She holds a small oval portrait of the mother of her husband, the famous painter, in her lap.  The picture is by P. de Champagne himself.  The head of the mother is very clever:  but the flesh has perhaps too predominant a tint of pinkish-purple throughout.

Madame de la Sabliere.  Oval:  very clever.

Madame Deshoulieres.  Similar, in both repects.

Madame Cornuel.  Oval:  a stiff performance.

Madame la Duchesse d’Orleans.  She is represented as Hebe.  A pretty picture; but a little too much “frenchified.”

Madame de Staal.  Oval.  Beautiful and perfect.

Madame la Marquise de Rambouillet.  A deg. 1646.  A most beautiful picture.  The head and shoulders are worthy of Vandyke.  The curtain, in the background, is flowered; and perhaps too hard.