Virgin and Child Surrounded by Angels by Jean Fouquet. The right wing of the Melun Diptych features Sorel painted as the Virgin Mary at Charles VII request. Circa 1450
Agnès Sorel (1422 – 9 February 1450) was the first officially recognized royal mistress of the European Courts. She was the mistress of King Charles VII of France. She became incredibly powerful, gaining Charles favor after bringing him out of a great depression. She popularized low cut gowns at court, which saw women's breasts basically falling out of their dress. People both imitated her and scorned her at the same time. She met Charles when she was 20 or 21, and died in 1450. Initially it was believed she died of dysentery, but it was later found out as science developed that she had died of poisoning. But was it one of her many enemies at court, who hated her political influence over the king, or was it due to the makeup that she wore. At the time, makeup worn by women contained a myriad of toxic ingredients. She was referred to as the Dame de beauté (Lady of Beauty).
