french or spanish his network was boundless. in sixteen twenty one he landed a major assignment in paris it was commissioned by maria de met at the mother of the french king a good twenty years earlier he had been among the guests at her wedding in florence now she asked him to organize the opulent decoration of a gallery and the newly built new looks. completed a series of twenty one paintings glorifying episodes in the life of maria de medici . he spent four years developing the impressive cycle during which time french painters and artisans were barred access to the gallery. cycle conceived for the exclusive viewing of france s nobility and power brokers is