Who painted Bildnis Gräfin Polignac?

Bildnis Gräfin Polignac was painted by Pierre Gobert in 1703.

Where can I see Bildnis Gräfin Polignac?

Bildnis Gräfin Polignac is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Bildnis Gräfin Polignac?

Bildnis Gräfin Polignac is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Bildnis Gräfin Polignac

Pierre Gobert , 1703

Bildnis Gräfin Polignac is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Pierre Gobert. It dates from 1703 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Pierre Gobert’s 1703 portrait, titled *Bildnis Gräfin Polignac*, is part of the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek. The canvas presents a seated noblewoman in a blue gown with a white bodice, her right arm resting on a table laden with fruit. To her left, an older woman in red gestures toward the younger figure’s arm, all set against a deep, shadowed backdrop.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is identified as Countess Polignac, portrayed in an atmosphere of restrained elegance. The presence of the older woman, possibly a maid or confidante, and the fruit on the table may allude to themes of abundance, fertility, or the passage of time, inviting contemplation of the sitter’s status and personal virtues.

Technique & Style

The contrast between the saturated blues and reds and the muted background heightens the three‑dimensionality of the figures.

Gobert employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing the luminous fabrics to emerge from the surrounding darkness. The contrast between the saturated blues and reds and the muted background heightens the three‑dimensionality of the figures. Fine brushwork renders the delicate textures of silk and the intricate updo, while the soft modeling of flesh demonstrates the artist’s command of Baroque portraiture.

History & Provenance

Created in the early eighteenth century, the painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings as part of the museum’s effort to assemble a representative collection of German and French court portraiture. Its accession record traces the work back to the original patronage of the Polignac family, confirming its authenticity and historical context.