Artwork
Portrait of the Princess of Lamballe

Portrait of the Princess of Lamballe is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Antoine-François Callet. It dates from 1788 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Painted by Antoine-François Callet in 1776, the portrait presents the sitter as a seated woman, capturing her specific hairstyle and aristocratic presence.
The work depicts Marie Thérèse Louise of Savoy-Carignan, known as the Princesse de Lamballe, a prominent figure in the French court. Painted by Antoine-François Callet in 1776, the portrait presents the sitter as a seated woman, capturing her specific hairstyle and aristocratic presence. As a formal court portrait, the image serves to document the identity and status of the Princesse within the royal hierarchy.
The composition focuses entirely on the individual, emphasizing her role and personal attributes without incorporating additional allegorical figures or complex symbolic narratives beyond her dignified representation.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1776, the Portrait of the Princess of Lamballe is an oil painting on canvas by Antoine-François Callet. The work measures 214 cm in height and 158 cm in width, presenting the sitter in a seated position. As a formal portrait, the piece depicts Marie Thérèse of Savoy, Princesse de Lamballe, capturing specific details of her hairstyle and attire consistent with the genre.
The painting is currently held in the collection of the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles.
History & Provenance
Antoine-François Callet executed the oil-on-canvas portrait of Marie-Thérèse-Louise de Savoie-Carignan, Princesse de Lamballe, in 1776. The work depicts the sitter seated and is currently held by the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles. Its provenance is documented through multiple inventory numbers, including MV 3905, INV 9818, and LP 3702, reflecting its long-term presence in French national collections. The painting measures 214 cm in height and 158 cm in width.
The Portrait of the Princess of Lamballe is housed in the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles, where it is catalogued under multiple inventory references including MV 3905, INV 9818, and LP 3702. The work has been featured in exhibitions at the Palace of Versailles, underscoring its significance within the institution's collection and display history.
Context
The Portrait of the Princess of Lamballe by Antoine-François Callet was created in 1776 and depicts Marie Thérèse of Savoy, Princesse de Lamballe, a close confidante of Marie Antoinette. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 214 by 158 cm and currently resides in the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles. As a representative portrait from the late Ancien Régime, it reflects Callet's prominence as a court painter and his role within the broader Neoclassical movement in French art.
The painting's enduring scholarly interest stems from its historical significance, its presence in major institutional collections, and ongoing research into Callet's oeuvre and the cultural context of pre-revolutionary French portraiture.
Overview
Antoine‑François Callet painted the Portrait of the Princess of Lamballe in 1788. Executed in oil, the work belongs to the late Rococo style and is part of the collection at the Palace of Versailles. It presents Marie‑Thérèse of Savoy, the Princesse de Lamballe, in a seated pose that emphasizes her attire and coiffure.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Antoine-François Callet (1741–1823), generally known as Antoine Callet, was a French painter of portraits and allegorical works, who acted as official portraitist to Louis XVI.

















