The Vicomte de Bragelonne · Chapter
The Portrait explained
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.
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.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because Raoul reaches his emotional and psychological nadir, fully interna…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes 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.
Characters to notice
- 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 passages
“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.
