Who painted The Count de Vergennes?

The Count de Vergennes was painted by Antoine-François Callet in 1790.

Where can I see The Count de Vergennes?

The Count de Vergennes is held by Palace of Versailles.

What movement is The Count de Vergennes?

The Count de Vergennes is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

The Count de Vergennes

Antoine-François Callet , 1790

The Count de Vergennes is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Antoine-François Callet. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles. Antoine‑François Callet’s 1790 oil portrait presents Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes, in a dignified pose against a dark backdrop.

About this work

If you're interested in learning more about the artist who created this portrait, you might want to look up Antoine-François Callet.

This painting depicts a man with white hair, dressed in a blue jacket adorned with a silver star on the left side of his chest. A blue sash is draped over his right shoulder, and he wears a white shirt underneath. The background of the painting is dark, which helps to accentuate the subject's features.

The man's attire and the star on his jacket suggest that he may be a member of the nobility or hold a high-ranking position. The painting's style and the subject's clothing also indicate that it was created during the 18th century.

If you're interested in learning more about the artist who created this portrait, you might want to look up Antoine-François Callet.

Overview

Antoine‑François Callet’s 1790 oil portrait presents Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes, in a dignified pose against a dark backdrop. The sitter’s white hair and formal attire—blue coat with a silver star, a blue sash over the right shoulder, and a crisp white shirt—draw the eye, while the subdued background emphasizes his facial features and rank.

Subject & Meaning

The work captures the former French foreign minister and diplomat, a key figure in the diplomatic landscape of the late eighteenth century. The silver star on the coat signals his noble status and official honors, underscoring his authority and the esteem in which he was held during the waning years of the Ancien Régime.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the portrait reflects the late Rococo’s refined elegance, with smooth brushwork that renders the textures of fabric and hair. Callet’s handling of light creates a subtle chiaroscuro, allowing the illuminated figure to emerge from the surrounding darkness, a hallmark of court portraiture of the period.

History & Provenance

Callet, a laureate of the 1764 Grand Prix de Rome and an Académie des Beaux‑Arts member by 1779, exhibited the painting the year it was completed. The portrait entered the royal collection and today resides within the Palace of Versailles, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of late‑eighteenth‑century French portraiture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Antoine-François Callet

Antoine-François Callet (1741–1823), generally known as Antoine Callet, was a French painter of portraits and allegorical works, who acted as official portraitist to Louis XVI.