Italiano 
English
Before dying, a weary Francis I delegated some tasks. To Catherine he assigned the duty of commissioning royal portraits and immortalizing the faces of the court on canvas. A lover of art, Catherine wasted no time and ordered hundreds of portraits. She was particularly fond of the court painter François Clouet, very modern for his time.
Catherine decided that Clouet should portray the young princes. Keeping children sitting still for more than two seconds was probably the hardest part of the task.
from left to right:
- Hercule (who would later become Francis, Duke of Alençon)
- King Charles IX
- Margaret (Margot)
- Alexander Edward (who would later reign as Henry III)
A protective mother, guardian of her children and of the kingdom, Catherine holds King Charles's hand
Francois Clouet - ritratto di Caterina de' Medici e dei suoi figli
![Francois Clouet - ritratto di Caterina de’ Medici e dei suoi figli]()
