Portrait of G.-L. Leclere, Comte de Buffon 1780 - 1827

Curator: This drawing, titled "Portrait of G.-L. Leclerc, Comte de Buffon," was created by Jean-Baptiste-François Bosio sometime between 1780 and 1827. It resides here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and appears to be made of ink, perhaps sepia ink. Editor: Well, my first impression is just a kind of… dreamy elegance. The sepia tone gives it this lovely antique feel. But also there is a man, an environment and is he levitating slightly, I think? Curator: The context here is crucial. Buffon was a prominent naturalist, so Bosio’s depiction highlights his engagement with the natural world through…well…images. Look at the composition. How would you consider the application of the sepia ink in depicting texture and conveying scientific observation? Editor: Ah, a materialist question. Well, that consistent color ties everything together – all the wildlife surrounding Buffon. Is that symbolism or pure scientific representation? Curator: It's both! Bosio clearly intended to convey Buffon's holistic understanding of nature – from flora to fauna. But what intrigues me are the choices in terms of labor. The use of sepia ink allows the hand to remain visible, foregrounding that the artist used specific knowledge about how Buffon perceived nature. Editor: True! And sepia ink…isn’t that from cuttlefish? Knowing that gives this portrait an organic vibe that fits Buffon perfectly. He probably would have appreciated the connection, a bit meta, maybe! So Bosio really uses material to echo meaning, blurring lines between art, craft, and observation. It makes me want to wander through an 18th century menagerie, journal in hand. Curator: Indeed. It shows how the means of art-making, and its materials are all linked to scientific investigation of nature, how they could merge in unexpected and sometimes unstable ways. And that is worth some meditation today. Editor: Exactly, that portrait is more than ink, paper and history, it is alive with a kind of imaginative engagement to both nature and knowledge. It definitely adds another dimension for anyone looking.