The family of the Duke of Penthièvre called la tasse de chocolat by Jean-Baptiste Charpentier the Elder
Jean-Baptiste Charpentier the Elder's 1768 painting, *The family of the Duke of Penthièvre called la tasse de chocolat*, housed at the Palace of Versailles, captures a moment of aristocratic leisure that, today, is insured for 4.5 million Euros.
At the center, Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre, an admiral, sips chocolate, a fashionable and costly indulgence of the era. The painting highlights the opulent lifestyles and refined tastes of the French court.
Charpentier, a prominent Rococo portrait painter, was known for his elegant depictions of figures like the Duke and Marie-Antoinette. This work was commissioned for the Duke's household, eventually becoming part of the royal collection.
Consider the daily rituals captured in art: what everyday luxuries of our time might command such attention centuries from now?
Transcript
This family enjoys a morning chocolate, 1768. Chocolate was a luxury, imported from the Americas. The painter, Charpentier, was known for royal portraits. His delicate brushwork captures the opulent details of their clothes. This painting now hangs in the Palace of Versailles. It’s currently insured for 4.5 million Euros.