Artwork

Portrait of Henri Gratien, Comte Bertrand

Portrait of Henri Gratien, Comte Bertrand is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

The support is ivory, a common medium for miniatures in this era, and the work is classified as a portrait miniature within the collection's genre taxonomy.

The work is a miniature portrait executed on ivory using watercolor pigments typical of early 19th-century French portrait miniatures. Its small dimensions and delicate brushwork reflect the refined handling characteristic of Jean-Baptiste Isabey's technique, though the attribution remains uncertain due to the anonymous artist designation.

The painting's formal qualities include a restrained palette and precise rendering of facial features that convey aristocratic poise, aligning with Neoclassical conventions of the period. Its condition appears stable, with no noted deterioration in the cited record.

The support is ivory, a common medium for miniatures in this era, and the work is classified as a portrait miniature within the collection's genre taxonomy.

History & Provenance

The portrait was created in 1808, according to the cataloguing record for the work. A Wikidata entry attributes the portrait miniature to Jean-Baptiste Isabey, a French artist active during that period, and dates its inception to 1 January 1808. The work is recorded as being held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

No further details regarding commission, intermediate ownership, or chain of custody prior to its accession by the museum are documented in the available sources.

The portrait miniature of Henri Gratien, Comte Bertrand, created by Jean-Baptiste Isabey in 1808, is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. The work is cataloged under the accession number 1940.1211. No specific exhibition history is documented in the provided sources.

Overview

The work depicts a seated gentleman with dark hair and pronounced sideburns, dressed in a high‑collared jacket adorned with a patterned fabric and a vivid red sash crossing his chest. He faces the viewer directly, his expression sober and composed, set against a plain, light‑toned wall that serves as a neutral backdrop for the figure.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is identified as Henri Gratien, Comte Bertrand, a French nobleman whose status is conveyed through his refined attire and the dignified pose. The direct gaze and serious demeanor suggest a portrait intended to affirm his social standing and personal gravitas, typical of aristocratic commissions in the period.

Context

Portraits of the French aristocracy in the 18th and early 19th centuries often combined formal attire with subtle psychological insight. This piece aligns with that tradition, reflecting contemporary expectations of portraiture as both a record of appearance and a conveyance of the sitter’s rank and character.