Entirely in kepping with Nattier's purposeful flattery, with the general vainglory of his patrons and the particular wish-fulness of the young everywhere and always, Nattier, commissioned by Louis XV to paint the portraits of the five princesses, his daughters, showed the youngest of them, Sophie, - then a school-girl at the Abbey Fontevrault - as the mature woman that we see.

"Madame Sophie" is Sophie-Elizabeth-Justine, fifth daughter of Louis XV and Marie Leczinska. During the period of the three youngest princesses' education at the Abbey Fontevrault, the king sent Nattier to paint their portraits as a surprise gift to their mother. The daughters of Louis XV and the queen were named Mesdames Sophie, Victoire, Louise, Adelaide and Elizabeth. They portraits hang at Versailles.

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