Artwork

Henri and Charles Beaubrun making the portrait of Queen Marie-Thérèse

Henri and Charles Beaubrun making the portrait of Queen Marie-Thérèse is an oil painting by the French Classical Baroque artist Martin Lambert. It dates from 1675 and is held in the collection of the Museum of the History of France.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1675, this oil painting by Martin Lambert portrays the younger Henri Beaubrun alongside his brother Charles Beaubrun. The work is part of the collection at the Palace of Versailles and measures the collaborative activity of the two court painters as they prepare a portrait of Queen Marie‑Thérèse.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas captures the brothers at work: one holds a brush and palette, while the other gestures toward an unfinished sketch on an easel. Their attentive gazes and the presence of artistic tools emphasize the process of portraiture, suggesting a focus on the craft behind royal representation rather than the final image itself.

Technique & Style

Lambert employs a restrained chiaroscuro, allowing soft illumination to model the faces against a darkened interior. The rich fabrics—silk, lace, velvet—are rendered with careful attention to texture, while the red curtain behind them adds depth. The composition balances realism with a modest theatricality typical of late‑seventeenth‑century French court painting.

History & Provenance

The painting was executed during the reign of Louis XIV and entered the Versailles collection, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Lambert and its dating to 1675 are supported by archival records linking the artist to royal commissions for the Beaubrun brothers, who served as official portraitists to the court.