Artwork

Portrait of Étienne François, comte de Stainville, duc de Choiseul

Portrait of Étienne François, comte de Stainville, duc de Choiseul, by Jacques Thouron, unspecified, 1704
Portrait of Étienne François, comte de Stainville, duc de Choiseul, by Jacques Thouron, unspecified, 1704

Portrait of Étienne François, comte de Stainville, duc de Choiseul is an unspecified portrait miniature by the Rococo painting artist Jacques Thouron. It dates from 1704 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Portrait of Étienne François, comte de Stainville, duc de Choiseul is a portrait miniature executed in enamel, a medium chosen for its durability and resistance to fading. The work depicts its subject in formal attire, adopting a serious demeanor.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait captures Étienne François, comte de Stainville, duc de Choiseul, in a formal, solemn pose, reflecting the gravity of his noble status. The choice of enamel may imply a desire for the portrait to endure as a lasting tribute.

Technique & Style

The enamel technique involved layering colored metal oxides and firing them at varying temperatures, a complex process requiring great skill to achieve a lifelike portrayal. Despite these challenges, the artist successfully conveyed the subject's personality with subtlety.

History & Provenance

Attributed to Jacques Thouron, a master enamelist, the portrait demonstrates the artist's ability to balance the technical demands of enamel work with the pursuit of psychological depth in portraiture.

Context

Created in an era where portrait miniatures often faced deterioration due to material fragility, this enamel work stands out for its intentional durability, suggesting it was meant for long-term preservation and admiration.

Legacy

As an example of 18th-century enameling, the portrait contributes to the understanding of this precise and durable art form, highlighting the balance between technical mastery and artistic expression achieved by enamelist masters like Thouron.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacques Thouron

Jacques Thouron (1740–1789) was a Swiss artist.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.