Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

The Man with the Red Bow

Themanwitharedbow

Do you know who this man is? He has being hanging out with me for a very long time, and still I don’t know his name. (Click on the image to have a closer look.)

I’d like to get to know him can you help me unveil the man with the red bow? He has a partner. I wrote about her a year or so ago.  I don’t know her name either, and though many of you guessed and searched, her name remains a mystery as well.

I guess you could say this is a guessing game.  For more clues click on the links up above.

Thank you!

Comments

26 responses to “The Man with the Red Bow”

  1. Jeanne

    Pursue your painting and get to know all your masterpieces well.
    I love you
    Jeanne

    Reply
  2. Mélanie

    I don’t know who they are But these painting are gorgeous , such a piece of art. thair frame is wonderful .
    if they were found in a chicken coop, They are golden eggs for sure !!
    Love this post , love that man ! I have to find a boyfriend like him !!

    Reply
  3. tut-tut

    I’d love a tour of your house! He looks like a minor-major figure, doesn’t he?

    Reply
  4. My Melange

    Why is it Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette as his partner?????

    Reply
  5. Shannon

    OMG, I totally forgot about that guy! LOL.
    Once the expansion on the local art museum is completed, I plan to take printout pictures of those two and ask if anyone can identify them.

    Reply
  6. rochambeau

    Dear Corey,
    I don’t know, but I’ll ask around.
    The woman is breathtaking. I love everything about her to include her blue bow.
    What is interesting: The man’s suit of armor doesn’t seem to match the period of the style of painting. Could he be dressed in costume?

    Reply
  7. cd&m

    The man in the red bow, ermmm now I wonder…..

    Reply
  8. Cre8Tiva

    surely he must be ‘louis louis some number’…a red bow signifies dui, aids/hiv, substance abuse, heart disease…red also represents the sun…so random today…blessings, rebecca

    Reply
  9. BOSSY

    The Man With The Red Bow is… a cross-dresser.

    Reply
  10. Pat

    I believe he is French and it’s my opinion, he and the lady are connected. They seem to face each other. I’m intrigued by the suit of armor. As someone else mentioned, he might be in costume.
    I hope you find the answers. It will be fun to research these two!
    Pat

    Reply
  11. stephanie

    They were the husband and sister of Madamoiselle ‘Newly Arrived to the New World’. When she discovered the tryst she through them both to the chicken coop…..

    Reply
  12. stephanie

    well of course I meant threw….

    Reply
  13. martina

    They don’t look like Prince or Princess (not enough sparklies) but more like a Duke/Duchess or possibly very wealthy merchant and wife. No info on back of canvas? Signature of artist?

    Reply
  14. Donna O.

    Hmmm… I don’t know him but perhaps my lady I just bought does. I’ll ask, though she’s merely a print and may not socialize in the same circles!!
    D.

    Reply
  15. Heather

    This image seems to be contemporary: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:James_cmid1680s.JPG–found it in a Wiki article about clothes of the period: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1650-1700_in_fashion#Men.E2.80.99s_Fashion
    Almost definitely not Rembrandt though of the period, (probably slightly after his time–the artist was probably influenced by his work–many were at the time) and almost definitely French.
    The antique appraiser I do research for seldom gets French antiques (we are in mid-western PA–mostly British, Scandinavian, some Japanese, and Early American come our way.) Without a signature it is hard for me to say more. Someone who specializes in European art history would probably have a lot more to say on it. An interesting question however, and one that will eat away at the back of my mind. 🙂

    Reply
  16. Rosemary

    Hi Corey,
    Another mystery to solve. Well, I will try to find out something.
    I love the challenge.
    Rosemary

    Reply
  17. Darlene

    The secret brother to Louis…the “Man in the Iron Mask” perhaps? Royalty by blood, but denied the right. Philippe, the king’s brother and the rightful heir to the French Throne? Maybe his captors took pity on him, and he was released to marry that french maiden he always dreamed about…then in later years, his father and brother dead, his mother’s estate passed on to him. He finally was free…

    Reply
  18. Teresa

    I love it, a mystery man, isn’t he more fascinating that way? He doesn’t appear to be very old though. Love the bow!
    Teresa

    Reply
  19. Beverly

    I have no idea…or ideas…but I always click your links and was wondering…just where is the beginning of this blog? I have a need to read from the beginning!
    (Ah…and it’s the weekend with no major plans…except to read your blog from the beginning!)

    Reply
  20. Pamela

    Although many of your readers suggest this couple is French, something about the gentleman’s pose, hair, and costume reminds me of British portrait painting of the same era as the frames. On the other hand, the set of the youthful facial features does look French. Very intriguing, and I’m sure the intrigue is part of the allure. May they continue to capture your attention.

    Reply
  21. Sally

    Well I dare say that is an early glimpse of the Poulet family, purveyors of the finest oeufs in France. Some disgruntled underling must have tossed the family portraits into the hen house. Naughty naughty.
    As I recall, Claude did always love to play soldier and Paulette, the coquette. So sad to think they were found buried under the chicken pooh pooh. We can at least be thankful they suffered their unsavory fate together.
    🙂

    Reply
  22. Elaine

    Ah, Corey, I cannot believe that you have uncovered the only likeness of my great-grandmother’s first cousin. His name is Louis Francois Alphonse Gillette. He and his family…father, mother and younger sister, Amelie, sailed to America. The voyage was very, very difficult but they arrived in America and settled in to a very peaceful but successful life. They joined my great-grandmother’s family in business in St. Augustine, Florida. Louis became engaged to be married to a beautiful young woman by the name of Cecile Marie Vioget. They were very much in love and everyone who knew them could see how they were meant to be together.
    To make a long story, a very long story, short….Louis sat for this portrait as an engagement gift for his beloved Cecile. You may have seen her portrait that she gave to Louis.
    They spent their lives together, had 7 children and both passed from this earth when they reached their 97th birthday.
    I am so glad to see my distant cousin in such lovely hands.

    Reply
  23. Gillian @ Indigo Blue

    I haven’t a clue. But I am insanely in love with the pompous twit. Truely. And his wife!
    xo
    Blue

    Reply
  24. Marie-Noëlle

    Searched in 3 directions: She / He / frames.
    1- I MIGHT have found a few things… about HER…
    SHE might be Mademoiselle ALB… sending you a few pages off blog.
    2- As for him, his costume is telling… Might be her brother ???
    3- Found similar frames…
    Only directions though…

    Reply
  25. cruststation

    Hope you solve the mystery soon, they are both very beautiful paintings to be enjoyed.

    Reply
  26. Diana

    He kind of looks like this gentleman, in the background… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Back_1685.JPG

    Reply

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