Artwork
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Périgord (1754–1838), Prince de Bénévent
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Périgord (1754–1838), Prince de Bénévent is an oil painting by Pierre Paul Prud'hon. It dates from 1817 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
9 cm in width, an imposing vertical format suited to a full-length state portrayal of the sitter.
The portrait of Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Périgord is executed in oil paint on canvas, a medium consistent with Prud'hon's standard practice for formal portrait commissions. The work is classified as a portrait painting and measures 215.9 cm in height by 141.9 cm in width, an imposing vertical format suited to a full-length state portrayal of the sitter. The large canvas support allowed Prud'hon scope for the painterly modeling and tonal blending characteristic of his style, while the 1817 date places the work within his mature period of refined, softly shadowed portraiture.
History & Provenance
The portrait was painted by Pierre-Paul Prud'hon in 1817, as indicated by the artist's date and the work's documented inception year. After its creation, the painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains. The portrait depicts Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord and is recorded as an oil on canvas measuring 215.9 cm in height and 141.9 cm in width.
Overview
This oil painting, created in 1817 by the French Neoclassical artist Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, depicts Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Prince de Bénévent. Talleyrand, a notable French diplomat, is presented in a formal yet dynamic pose. The artwork is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, offering a glimpse into the political and artistic landscape of early 19th-century France.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, a pivotal figure in French diplomacy during a tumultuous era. Prud'hon portrays him with an air of confidence and composure, reflecting his influential career. His attire and the opulent setting suggest his elevated status and the refined world of statecraft he inhabited. The painting serves as a visual record of a significant historical personality.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre-Paul Prud'hon (French pronunciation: 4 April 1758 – 16 February 16, 1823) was a French Neo-classical painter and draughtsman best known in his own time for his allegorical paintings and portraits, now for his drawings.
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