Portrait of Jan Anthony d’Averhoult 1756 - 1792

Louis Léopold Boilly painted this portrait of Jan Anthony d’Averhoult with oil on canvas in France. Boilly was a portrait painter of the French middle class, whose work gives us a feel for the cultural and political ferment of the era. D’Averhoult is depicted in the midst of what we might assume is an impassioned speech. The backdrop behind him may give a clue as to the content of his speech, for it imitates the friezes in the classical style that were popular at the time. In the years before the French Revolution, ancient Rome and Greece were seen as models of civic virtue. D’Averhoult’s open book, papers, and inkwell remind us of his social class, as does the red box at his feet, which may signify his participation in a political club. Art historians use a variety of sources to understand the meaning of paintings such as this. By looking at other paintings by the same artist and the artifacts of the time, we can develop a better understanding of French society and politics.