text:  The portraits of Mignard and the battle-pieces of Vandermeulen all show us the change that was then going on at the court of Versailles: we find the form of the dress stiffening the sleeves lengthening pockets either yawning wide or covered under deep lapels the cuffs turned up halfway to the elbow and a glorious display of gold lace and ribands that must have made a fine gentleman of those palmy days glitter with the colours of the rainbow