Please meet Elisabeth Stuart (1596-1612), reine de Bohême who greets the guests of the exhibition Des cheveux et des poils at Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris.
This painting is one of my favs in the whole show. Nothing special at first sight, a typical portrait from the XVII century. But look closer, at Elisabeth's earring. Yes, it's a lock of hair - the lovelock!
In the late XVI and early XVII century England the lovelock was a fashionable way to display a lock of hair belonging to a loved one. The lock was worn as an earring, usually on the left side, where the heart is.
How cool is that?
Bisou bisou, Jo 🖤