Who painted Portrait of Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans?

Portrait of Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans was painted by Pierre Gobert in 1720.

Where can I see Portrait of Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans?

Portrait of Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans is held by Palace of Versailles.

What movement is Portrait of Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans?

Portrait of Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans

Pierre Gobert , 1720

Portrait of Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Pierre Gobert. It dates from 1720 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.

About this work

Overview

Her expression remains composed and serious, characteristic of the dignified portraiture style favored by the French court under the Regency.

Pierre Gobert's Portrait of Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans, executed in 1720, is a formal oil portrait of the French princess during her youth. The composition presents the sitter seated in a three-quarter view, her figure anchored by a dark, indistinct background that emphasizes her illuminated presence. She wears a white gown accented by a blue shawl draped across her shoulders, while a floral garland encircles her neck and flowers adorn her dark hair, suggesting themes of spring or allegorical virtue.

In her right hand, she holds a small golden cup, a detail that may allude to classical motifs or specific familial symbolism. Her expression remains composed and serious, characteristic of the dignified portraiture style favored by the French court under the Regency. Painted shortly after the death of Louis XIV, this work reflects Gobert's role as a leading portraitist to the royal family, capturing the transition in aristocratic representation toward a blend of classical elegance and contemporary fashion.

The painting stands as a significant document of the d'Orléans lineage and the artist's ability to convey both status and individual character through subtle color harmonies and refined brushwork.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, Charlotte Aglaé, appears in a dignified pose, her gaze directed outward with a composed seriousness. She holds a small gilded cup, a possible emblem of refinement or domestic virtue, while a floral garland encircles her neck, linking her to the era’s conventions of feminine grace and noble status.

Technique & Style

Gobert employed oil layers to achieve a smooth, luminous surface, allowing the fabrics’ textures and the sitter’s complexion to appear convincingly tactile. The delicate rendering of the white dress, blue shawl, and the intricate hair ornaments reflects a careful glazing method, enhancing depth and subtle colour shifts typical of French court portraiture.

History & Provenance

Created in the early reign of Louis XV, the portrait entered the royal collection and has remained at Versailles since the palace’s transformation into a museum. Its continuous presence in the French national holdings underscores its role as a documented representation of the Orléans branch of the royal family.