The Coronation of the Queen (Marie de Medici Cycle) - Rubens

The coronation of Marie de Médicis at Saint-Denis (May 13, 1610). Two genies rain gold coins on the queen (ritual of largesse), who is assisted by several princesses and receives the crown from Cardinal de Joyeuse. The white-clad dauphin and his sister princess are at her side.

The commission to Rubens stipulated:

13. The coronation of the Queen. 
The church of Saint-Denis is represented in perspective with the grand hôtel well adorned with ornaments and silverware necessary to celebrate mass; at the side of the hôtel [for: altar] is represented a small room upholstered in purple velvet with gold fleur-de-lis embroidery, in which was the King who saw the ceremony; on the other side a low theater on which were the ambassadors; above another theater where was the music and oboes that sounded and sang during mass. Around the church were theaters for the gentlemen and ladies, gentlemen and officers who watched the ceremony; in front of the grand hotel was a small theater three feet high, on which was a large purple velvet footed drape sown with gold fleur-de-lys in embroidery. In the middle of the theater was a purple velvet tile of the same embroidery, on which the Queen, arriving at the church, knelt in front of the grand hotel. The Queen wore an ermine corset and surcoat enriched with large diamonds, her royal mantle of purple velvet strewn with gold fleurs-de-lis and stuffed with ermine, and her Majesty's headdress trimmed with large diamonds and pearls of inestimable price. As soon as the Queen arrived and knelt in front of the Grand Hôtel, Cardinal de Joyeuse began the coronation ceremony, dressed in his pontifical vestments, assisted by Cardinals de Gondy and de Sourdy, along with archbishops and bishops. It is necessary to omit the entire coronation ceremony, representing only how Mr Cardinal de Joyeuse places the crown on the Queen's head; at the Queen's side on the right hand were Mr the Dauphin and Madame his sister, on the left hand, Mr d'Orléans and Queen Marguerite, behind the Queen three princesses of the blood carrying Her Majesty's tail namely Madame the Princess, the mother of Madame the Princesse de Conti, Madame de Montpensier. At the Queen's side, Mr de Vendôme held the sceptre and Mr le chevalier de Vendôme the hand of justice, while Mr le Prince de Conti wore the crown in front of the Queen. There were benches covered in gold cloth, where were Queen Marguerite, Madame de Guise the Dowager, Mademoiselle de Vendôme, Madame de Vendôme, Mademoiselle Les princesses du sang [?] and the duchesses, dressed in silver canvas cottes, man surcot, ducal mantle of crimson purple velvet with gold [illegible]. Widowed princesses and duchesses dressed in black velvet coats, man's surcoat without jewels, crimson velvet mantle, but shorter, crowned like the others. Glory and honor are represented in the sky, placing the crown on the queen's head". (Bnf Ms Baluze, 323, fol. 54, transcription Foucart et Thuillier, corr. Hénin and Cojannot)