Anne de Clermont-Chaste de Gessans (?-1789), last abbess of Chelles Abbey
1750
oil
From the collection of Palace of Versailles
1750
oil
From the collection of Palace of Versailles
This painting depicts a woman in a black nun's habit, sitting in a chair with a gold frame. She wears a white collar and a gold cross around her neck. Her right hand rests on a book, while her left hand is extended, as if gesturing. The background features a green wall with a mirror and a bookshelf. The woman's attire and the cross suggest a religious theme. The painting's style and the subject's formal pose are characteristic of 18th-century portraiture. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, explore the technique.
