The Two Sisters

Art Historical Context

In the elegant world of 18th-century, Jean Claude Richard,é de Saint-Non, the tender bond between two young sisters in *The Two Sisters* (1770). This double portrait, rendered in pastel on paper and laid down on canvas, 31⅝ × 25 inches and now graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art thanks to a 1977 gift from Daniel Wildenstein.-Non, a cleric and artist known for his landscapes and engravings inspired by Italian travels, here showcases his skill in portraiture, highlighting the Rococo era's fondness for soft, luminous depictions of youth and family. Pastel, a favored medium in the 1700s for its velvety textures and vibrant yet delicate colors, allowed Saint-Non to blend subtle hues for lifelike skin tones and expressive gazes. Laying the paper on canvas ensured longevity, transforming a fragile sketch-like work into a durable painting. This technique reflects the period's innovative approaches to preserving ephemeral art forms, bridging drawing and oil painting traditions. *The Two Sisters* offers a glimpse into Enlightenment-era domesticity, where portraits of children symbolized innocence and familial affection amid France's aristocratic refinement. Its classification among European pastels underscores its artistic merit, inviting visitors to appreciate the quiet emotional depth in Saint-Non's gentle brushwork.

About the Artist

Jean Claude Richard, Abbé de Saint-Non (French) · 1727 –1791

French, Paris 1727–1791 Paris