Jean-Baptiste Collin, comte de Sussy (1750-1826)

The sitter, Jean‑Baptiste Collin, held the title of comte de Sussy and served as a senior officer in the French military during the early nineteenth century. His white hair, white sash, and gold‑trimmed uniform convey both his rank and the dignified bearing expected of a noble officer of the Napoleonic era.

Riesener employed a smooth, refined brushwork typical of French portraiture of the time, rendering the textures of silk, metal, and fabric with subtle gradations of light. The contrast between the dark uniform and the vivid red background creates a clear focal point on the figure’s face and insignia.

The portrait entered the collection of the Palace of Versailles, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings. Henri‑François Riesener, son of the renowned cabinet‑maker Jean‑Henri Riesener and father of Romantic painter Léon Riesener, produced the work during a prolific period of his career as a portraitist and miniaturist.