Portrait of Catherine Coustard, Marquise of Castelnau, Wife of Charles-Léonor Aubry with Her Son Léonor c. 1700

Nicolas de Largillière painted this oil-on-canvas portrait of Catherine Coustard, Marquise of Castelnau, and her son Léonor at an unknown date. This portrait offers a window into the social conventions of the French aristocracy. Note the carefully arranged composition that underscores the family's elevated status. Largillière presents the Marquise and her son in luxurious clothing, surrounded by rich fabrics, all visual indicators of wealth and privilege. The setting, while generic, suggests a grand interior, possibly a salon within their estate. The formal pose and the controlled expressions of the subjects reflect the importance of decorum and social presentation in that era. The presence of a small dog, a common motif in portraits of women at the time, symbolizes loyalty and domesticity, reinforcing the Marquise's role as a wife and mother. To fully appreciate this work, research into the history of the French aristocracy, their patronage of the arts, and the conventions of portraiture during this period would be invaluable.