Who painted Allegorical Portrait of Pierre Buirette de Belloy?

Allegorical Portrait of Pierre Buirette de Belloy was painted by Louis-Simon Lempereur in 1767.

Where can I see Allegorical Portrait of Pierre Buirette de Belloy?

Allegorical Portrait of Pierre Buirette de Belloy is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Allegorical Portrait of Pierre Buirette de Belloy?

Allegorical Portrait of Pierre Buirette de Belloy is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Allegorical Portrait of Pierre Buirette de Belloy

Louis-Simon Lempereur , 1767

Allegorical Portrait of Pierre Buirette de Belloy is an ink print by the Baroque artist Louis-Simon Lempereur. It dates from 1767 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

In the foreground, a woman in flowing robes stands beside a man with a laurel wreath on his head, while a cherub lies at their feet.

This etching on laid paper, dated 1767, presents a striking scene. In the foreground, a woman in flowing robes stands beside a man with a laurel wreath on his head, while a cherub lies at their feet. The background features a dramatic sky with clouds and a distant landscape.

The image is rich in symbolism, with the woman possibly representing an allegory of wisdom or virtue. The cherub adds a sense of innocence and purity to the scene.

To learn more about the Baroque movement, which influenced this artwork, explore the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Overview

Louis‑Simon Lempereur’s 1767 etching, titled Allegorical Portrait of Pierre Buirette de Belloy, depicts a staged tableau on laid paper. Central to the composition is a woman in flowing robes standing beside a laurel‑crowned man, while a cherubic figure reclines at their feet. Behind them, a sky filled with clouds opens onto a distant landscape, creating a balanced foreground‑background relationship.

Subject & Meaning

The seated male figure, crowned with a laurel, likely alludes to the celebrated French actor Pierre Buirette de Belloy, invoking notions of artistic triumph. The accompanying woman, rendered in elegant drapery, functions as an allegorical personification—potentially of wisdom, virtue, or the theatrical muse—while the cherub at their base introduces themes of innocence and divine favor, enriching the portrait’s symbolic layers.

Technique & Style

Executed as an etching on laid paper, the work showcases Lempereur’s precise line work and careful modulation of tone. The artist employs chiaroscuro through delicate hatching to model the figures against a dramatic sky, reflecting the lingering influence of Baroque compositional dynamism. The use of allegorical iconography aligns the piece with contemporary French print traditions of the late eighteenth century.

History & Provenance

Created in 1767, the print was likely commissioned to honor Buirette de Belloy’s theatrical achievements. While the original patronage details remain scarce, the etching survives as a proof impression, indicating it may have been part of a limited series intended for distribution among the actor’s circle or for public exhibition. Its current location is recorded in museum collections specializing in French printmaking.