Louis-Antoine d’Artois, duc d’Angoulême (1775-1844)

Danloux executed the portrait in oil paint, characteristic of 18th-century French portraiture. The composition features a dark brown background, which contrasts with the subject’s adorned military uniform, drawing attention to the sitter’s status. The blurring of the face, while unusual, may suggest a focus on the subject’s role over individuality.

Painted in 1798 for an aristocratic patron, the portrait entered the Palace of Versailles collection, where it remains. Danloux, trained under prominent artists Lépicié and Vien, and influenced by his time in Rome, secured commissions from noble patrons like the Baronne Mégret de Sérilly d'Etigny.

Created during the late 18th century, a period of significant social and political upheaval in France, the portrait reflects the enduring patronage of the aristocracy for artistic works, even as the French monarchy faced imminent revolution.

As part of the Versailles collection, the portrait contributes to the historical record of French royal and military figures of the late 18th century, offering insight into the artistic patronage and sartorial symbols of the aristocracy on the eve of the Napoleonic era.