Portrait of Julien Offray de La Mettrie (1709–1751) by Georg Friedrich Schmidt

Portrait of Julien Offray de La Mettrie (1709–1751) 1770

drawing

germany

possibly oil pastel

charcoal art

handmade artwork painting

oil painting

fluid art

acrylic on canvas

coffee painting

underpainting

watercolour illustration

watercolor

Georg Friedrich Schmidt's 1770 drawing, "Portrait of Julien Offray de La Mettrie (1709–1751)," depicts the French physician and philosopher in a thoughtful pose. La Mettrie, known for his controversial ideas on materialism and atheism, is shown in an oval frame, suggesting a sense of importance. The inclusion of a quill pen, inkwell, and books reinforces his intellectual pursuits. The artist's use of black and red chalk creates a sense of depth and realism, highlighting the subject's features and attire. This intimate portrait offers a glimpse into the life and work of a prominent figure in the Enlightenment.

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A native of Berlin, Schmidt came to Paris to study printmaking with Nicolas Larmessin and became a member of the Royal Academy in 1742. He returned to Berlin in 1744 to serve as engraver to the King of Prussia and in 1757, established a school for printmakers at Saint Petersberg. The subject of Schmidt’s portrait, Julien Offray de La Mettrie (1709–1751) was a brilliant yet controversial physician. After publishing The Man-Machine in 1746, a scathing satire on the medical profession, Mettrie was forced to flee from France. In 1748, he was invited to reside at Berlin by Frederick II of Prussia who became an intimate friend. Mettrie, a resolute gourmand expired in 1751 of indigestion after dining on venison paté and truffles. The drawing was probably executed between 1748 and 1751. After 1760, Schmidt himself engraved the portrait which is signed: G.F. Schmidt depicted him (Mettrie) from life. The format is typical of European portrait drawings and prints with a simulated stone frame, a quill-pen, ink pot and books.