Henri-Jacques-Guillaume Clarke, Count of Hunebourg, Duke of Feltre, Marshal of France (1765-1818)

Clarke is shown in full dress uniform, his black coat trimmed with gold braid, a red sash across his chest, and a white waistcoat beneath. A medal hangs from his neck, and he holds a sword in his right hand, emphasizing his martial rank. Behind him, a marble bust on a pedestal suggests a lineage of honor or a commemorated predecessor.

Descamps renders the uniform’s intricate gold embroidery with fine brushwork, contrasting the dark brown wall and the muted landscape visible through a left‑hand window. The chiaroscuro modeling of the figure against the backdrop creates a three‑dimensional presence, while the smooth finish of the marble bust demonstrates the painter’s academic training.

Born in Lille, Descamps studied under François‑André Vincent and earned the Prix de Rome, which sent him to Italy before he entered the service of Joachim Murat in Naples. After completing the portrait, it entered the royal collection and has remained at Versailles, documenting the marshal’s status during the Bourbon Restoration.

The portrait was produced shortly after the fall of Napoleon, when former imperial officers were being reintegrated into the restored monarchy. Clarke, who held titles of Count of Hunebourg and Duke of Feltre, exemplified the continuity of military authority across regimes, a theme reflected in the formal, dignified composition.