Artwork
Portrait of Duke Charles of Angoulême
Portrait of Duke Charles of Angoulême is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Corneille de Lyon. It dates from 1536 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
This painting shows a man with a serious expression, wearing a dark jacket with gold embroidery and a matching hat with a white feather.
This painting shows a man with a serious expression, wearing a dark jacket with gold embroidery and a matching hat with a white feather. He has a white shirt underneath and a gold necklace. The background is a solid green color.
The man's clothing and the style of the painting suggest that it is from the 16th century. The level of detail in the embroidery and the subject's facial expression indicate a high level of skill on the part of the artist.
If you're interested in learning more about the artist who created this work, you might want to look up Corneille de Lyon.
Overview
Executed in oil in 1536, this small-scale portrait is attributed to the French court painter Corneille de Lyon. It presents a half-length figure against a uniform green backdrop, emphasizing the sitter’s attire and facial features. The work resides in the Uffizi Gallery, where it forms part of the museum’s collection of Renaissance portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is Charles II, Duke of Orléans, later known as Charles, Duke of Angoulême. He is shown with a sober expression, suggesting the dignified bearing expected of a high-ranking noble. The inclusion of a gold‑embroidered jacket, a matching hat with a white plume, and a gold chain underscores his status and the ceremonial role he occupied within the French court.
Technique & Style
Corneille’s handling of oil paint is marked by fine, controlled brushwork that renders the intricate gold embroidery and the texture of the fabric with precision. The portrait’s limited palette—muted darks contrasted with the vivid green background—focuses attention on the sitter’s face, while the smooth modeling of features reflects the artist’s mastery of 16th‑century French portrait conventions.
History & Provenance
Created during the early years of Charles’s prominence, the painting entered the Uffizi’s holdings through the Medici collection, though the exact path of acquisition remains undocumented. Its presence in a major Italian museum illustrates the cross‑court appreciation of French portraiture during the Renaissance and provides a rare visual record of the duke before his later political significance.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Corneille de Lyon was a Dutch painter of portraits who was active in Lyon, France, from 1533 until his death. In France and the Netherlands he is also still known as Corneille de La Haye after his birthplace, The Hague.
