Portrait de Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord 1807

Pierre-Paul Prud’hon painted this portrait of Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord using oil on canvas. Here, the material is significant, as oil paint allowed Prud’hon to portray the sitter with an alluring yet diplomatic air. The artist used smooth brushwork to build up layers of color and shading, creating a luminous and lifelike depiction of his subject. The crimson coat, embroidered with metallic thread, immediately catches the eye. To make the garment, first the fabric had to be produced and then carefully tailored and embroidered, most likely by skilled artisans. Consider also the high-status materials used for Talleyrand’s garments – these are the accoutrements of power. With these choices, Prud’hon elevates portraiture to the realm of high art, where technique, material, and social context converge.