Artwork

Funeral for Marie-Thérèse of Spain, Dauphine of France, in the Church of Nôtre Dame, Paris, on November 24, 1746

Funeral for Marie-Thérèse of Spain, Dauphine of France, in the Church of Nôtre Dame, Paris, on November 24, 1746 is a drawing by the Baroque artist Charles-Nicolas Cochin. It dates from 1746 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The drawing records the funeral of Marie‑Thérèse of Spain, Dauphine of France, held in Notre‑Dame on 24 November 1746.

About this work

Overview

The drawing records the funeral of Marie‑Thérèse of Spain, Dauphine of France, held in Notre‑Dame on 24 November 1746. Executed by Charles‑Nicolas Cochin, the king’s official draftsman, it captures the interior of the cathedral transformed for the ceremony, with the princess’s coffin placed beneath a central canopy.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts the ceremonial layout of the funeral, showing rows of clergy and mourners gathered around the central baldaquin that shelters the coffin. The composition emphasizes the solemnity of the royal mourning while also illustrating how the sacred space was temporarily re‑imagined for a state occasion.

Technique & Style

Cochin employs precise line work to render the Gothic structure of Notre‑Dame, overlaid with Rococo ornamentation—golden scrolls, pastel‑toned swags, and elaborate drapery. The contrast between the cathedral’s medieval arches and the decorative, theatrical embellishments highlights the period’s stylistic transition.

History & Provenance

Created shortly after the 1746 ceremony, the drawing served as an official visual record for the royal household. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is now conserved and displayed as an example of 18th‑century court documentation.

Context

Marie‑Thérèse’s death in childbirth prompted two separate funerals, one at Saint‑Denis and the other at Notre‑Dame. The latter, captured by Cochin, reflects the French court’s penchant for elaborate public rituals and the integration of contemporary Rococo aesthetics into traditional religious settings.

Artist & collection

Artist

Charles-Nicolas Cochin

Charles-Nicolas Cochin was a French engraver, designer, writer, and art critic. To distinguish him from his father of the same name, he is variously called Charles-Nicolas Cochin le Jeune, Charles-Nicolas Cochin le…