An artwork on Galleree from The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Comtesse de la Châtre (Marie Charlotte Louise Perrette Aglaé Bontemps, 1762–1848)Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun
French, Paris 1755–1842 Paris
1789
45 x 34 1/2 in. (114.3 x 87.6 cm)
Painting
Oil on canvas
European Paintings
Gift of Jessie Woolworth Donahue, 1954
The portrait "Comtesse de la Châtre" by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun invites viewers into a serene moment in the life of Marie Charlotte Louise Perrette Aglaé Bontemps.
Seated elegantly on a plush green sofa, the Comtesse is captured in soft light, which gently illuminates her delicate features and flowing white dress. Her ensemble, adorned with an oversized bow and delicate details, signifies her noble status while also highlighting the lightness of the fabric.
In her hand, she holds a book, suggesting a connection to knowledge and introspection. The Comtesse gazes outward with a calm yet thoughtful expression, as if inviting the viewer to ponder her inner world. The choice of a neutral background accentuates her figure, creating a sense of intimacy in this moment.
Vigée Le Brun, known for her ability to blend realism with a hint of idealization, uses soft brushstrokes to convey the textures of the fabrics, enhancing the overall sense of tranquility in the piece. This portrait not only reflects the elegance of the era but also captures the timeless beauty and depth of its subject. In this peaceful setting, we're reminded of the grace found in stillness and contemplation.
About the artist
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online.Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. Every day, art comes alive in the Museum's galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures.The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from The Met's Open Access dataset under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue New York, NY, USA 10028
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