Madame la Comtesse de Boufflers and Thérèse

Art Historical Context

In the mid-1760s, French artist Louis de Carmont captured an intimate moment between Madame la Comtesse defflers, a prominent figure in Parisian high society, and a young girl named Thér in this delicate drawing. Measuring just 12 x 8 inches, the work belongs to the Robert Lehman Collection The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carmontelle's skill in rendering everyday elegance among the nobility. Carmontelle, a versatile draftsman and early caricaturist favored by King Louis XV's court, employed a masterful mix of pencil, black and red chalk, watercolor, and white chalk highlights. This technique allowed for nuanced shading, vibrant skin tones, and subtle luminosity, evoking the Rococo era's emphasis on grace and refinement. The inclusion of books hints at intellectual pursuits, common in portraits of enlightened aristocrats. This piece reflects the cultural shift toward more personal, conversational portraiture in pre-Revolutionary France, bridging formal portraiture with candid snapshots. As part of the Lehman Collection, it preserves a glimpse into 18th-century salon life, inviting visitors to appreciate the artistry in small-scale intimacy.

About the Artist

Louis de Carmontelle · 1717–1806

**Louis Carrogis Carmontelle** (15 August 1717 – 26 December 1806) was a multifaceted French artist, dramatist, architect, and inventor whose career bridged the worlds of courtly entertainment and innovative visual arts during the Rococo era. Born in Paris to a modest family—his father worked as a bootmaker—he rose through talent and wit from humble origins to serve prominent noble households. He ...