Who painted Jean-Jacques Caffieri?

Jean-Jacques Caffieri was painted by Adolph Ulrich Wertmuller in 1792.

Where can I see Jean-Jacques Caffieri?

Jean-Jacques Caffieri is held by Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

What movement is Jean-Jacques Caffieri?

Jean-Jacques Caffieri is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Jean-Jacques Caffieri

Adolph Ulrich Wertmuller , 1792

Jean-Jacques Caffieri is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Adolph Ulrich Wertmuller. It dates from 1792 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

About this work

Overview

Jean-Jacques Caffieri, a French sculptor, is the subject of this 1792 oil portrait painted by Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller, a Swedish artist trained in Stockholm and Paris.

Subject & Meaning

Caffieri is portrayed in a state of calm, dressed in a lavish red coat with gold embroidery and a white cravat, conveying an air of elegance and wealth. A powdered gray wig and a hand resting on a dark chair add to the serene, composed demeanor. A bust on a shelf behind him subtly references his profession.

Technique & Style

Executed in the Rococo style, the painting features meticulous attention to detail, notably in the realistic depiction of the gold embroidery on Caffieri's coat. The use of chiaroscuro creates a striking contrast between the glowing, well-lit face and the shadowy background.

History & Provenance

Created on the cusp of the French Revolution, the portrait shows no hint of the impending turmoil. Wertmüller, having been elected to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in 1784, likely drew from his connections, including studying under Alexander Roslin and Joseph-Marie Vien. The work is now part of the collection at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Context

Despite being painted in 1792, just before the French Revolution, the portrait captures a moment of pre-revolutionary calm and opulence, reflecting the subject's status without anticipating the political upheaval to come.

Artist & collection

Artist

Adolph Ulrich Wertmuller

Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller (February 18, 1751 – October 5, 1811) was a Swedish painter whose notable works include Danaë receiving Jupiter in a Shower of Gold.