Artwork
Snuffbox with views at the château of Chanteloup
Snuffbox with views at the château of Chanteloup is a glass portrait miniature by the Baroque artist Pierre-François Delafons|Louis Nicolas van Blarenberghe. It dates from 1748 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The object is a portable snuffbox that incorporates miniature paintings depicting the château of Chanteloup.
About this work
This is a snuffbox with views at the château of Chanteloup. It's a work of art from the 18th century.
The snuffbox has miniatures from 1767 and was created between 1748 and 1749. It's made of gold, glass, and velum, which are interesting materials to combine in a single piece.
You can learn more about the Baroque movement to understand the context of this artwork.
Overview
Executed in the mid‑eighteenth century, the piece combines gold, glass and a thin vellum panel to frame the images.
The object is a portable snuffbox that incorporates miniature paintings depicting the château of Chanteloup. Executed in the mid‑eighteenth century, the piece combines gold, glass and a thin vellum panel to frame the images. Its dimensions and functional purpose as a tobacco container place it within the decorative arts of the French aristocracy, while the painted scenes provide a visual record of an elite residence.
Subject & Meaning
The interior scenes illustrate the architecture and gardens of Chanteloup, a grand estate associated with the French court. By presenting these views inside a personal object, the maker offered the owner a private reminder of status and place, linking everyday ritual—snuff taking—to the prestige of the château’s landscape.
Technique & Style
The box is a work of metalwork in gold, with a glass lid that protects a vellum sheet bearing the painted miniatures. The miniatures, executed in watercolor on vellum, reflect the refined, detailed approach typical of late Baroque decorative objects, where fine brushwork and luminous color complement the luxurious metal framework.
History & Provenance
The snuffbox was assembled between 1748 and 1749, though the miniature paintings were added later in 1767. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1976 (accession 1976.155.22). The object's layered chronology illustrates the practice of updating decorative objects with newer imagery to maintain relevance for successive owners.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre-François Delafons|Louis Nicolas van Blarenberghe
This pair of artists made tiny, gem-like paintings you could hide in your palm—or drop into a snuffbox.
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