# The Portrait explained — The Vicomte de Bragelonne

> Chapter companion for The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas.

## What happens

King Louis XIV arranges a portrait sitting for Louise de La Vallière in Saint-Aignan's apartments, using the painter's presence to maintain propriety while indulging his passion. The king's insatiable desire for Louise grows, and Malicorne advises Saint-Aignan to leave the lovers alone for twenty minutes to better satisfy the king.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

Louis XIV's obsessive love for Louise drives him to arrange secret meetings, while Louise risks discovery and scandal.

### Court Intrigue and Deception

Malicorne's cunning advice to Saint-Aignan and the use of a trapdoor highlight the deceptive maneuvers to facilitate the king's affair.

## Character check-ins

### Louis XIV

Arranges a portrait sitting for Louise, expresses insatiable love, and is dissatisfied despite the rendezvous.

### Louise de La Vallière

Sits for her portrait, receives a letter from the king, and reluctantly agrees to another meeting.

### De Guiche

Mistakenly identified as Saint-Aignan in the excerpt; actually Saint-Aignan is the host and confidant.

### Malicorne

Devises the trapdoor mechanism and advises Saint-Aignan to leave the king alone with Louise.

## Key lines

> In that malady which is termed love the paroxysms succeed each other at intervals, ever accelerating from the moment the disease declares itself.

The symptoms of love become more intense and frequent as the passion develops.

_Narrator's observation on the nature of love._

> The more I drink, the more unquenchable it becomes.

The more time I spend with her, the more I desire her.

_Louis XIV expresses his growing obsession with Louise._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/176-the-portrait
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters