François Clouet (c. 1510 – 1572),

was a French Renaissance miniaturist and painter, particularly known for his detailed portraits of the French ruling family. François Clouet was born in Tours, as the son of the court painter Jean Clouet. Like his father, he held the office of groom of the chamber and painter in ordinary to the king, and so far as salary is concerned, he started where his father left off. Many drawings are attributed to this artist, often without perfect certainty. There is, however, more to go upon than there is in the case of his father. One of his most remarkable portraits is that of Mary, Queen of Scots, a drawing in chalks in the Bibliothèque Nationale, and of similar character are the two portraits of Charles IX and the one at Chantilly of Marguerite of France. Perhaps his masterpiece is the portrait of Elizabeth of Austria in the Louvre. The displayed painting is a crop from: A Lady in Her Bath, c. (1571).