Who painted Hugh Capet?

Hugh Capet was painted by Charles de Steuben in 1837.

Where can I see Hugh Capet?

Hugh Capet is held by Museum of the History of France.

Artwork

Hugh Capet

Hugh Capet is an oil painting by Charles de Steuben. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the Museum of the History of France.

About this work

Overview

Charles de Steuben, a German-born artist who worked in France, painted the portrait titled Hugh Capet in 1837. Executed in oil, the work presents the medieval French monarch and is part of the Palace of Versailles collection.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is rendered with long dark hair, a full beard, and a crown, indicating royal status. He wears a blue cloak over a reddish‑brown tunic, holds a golden orb in his right hand and a scepter in his left, both traditional symbols of sovereignty.

Technique & Style

Steuben employs the Romantic style prevalent in early‑19th‑century French painting, using a dark background that recedes into subtle shadows. The oil medium allows for rich coloration and a tactile rendering of the fabrics and regalia.

History & Provenance

Created during the period spanning the Napoleonic era to the Second Empire, the portrait entered the collection of the Palace of Versailles, where it remains displayed among other royal portraits.

Artist & collection

Artist

Charles de Steuben

Charles Auguste Guillaume Steuben (German: Carl August Wilhelm von Steuben; April 18, 1788 – November 21, 1856), also Charles de Steuben, was a German-born French Romantic painter and lithographer active from the Napoleonic to Second…

Museum

Museum of the History of France

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