Jean-Claude Richard, Abbot of Saint-Non, Dressed ‘a l’Espagnole’ c. 1769

Jean-Honoré Fragonard painted this portrait of Jean-Claude Richard, Abbot of Saint-Non, ‘a l’Espagnole,’ with oil on canvas. It captures a moment of playful role-play within the French aristocracy. Painted in France during the 1760s, this work reflects the cultural fascination with exoticism and theatre. The Abbot, a prominent figure in Parisian society, is depicted in fanciful Spanish attire, complete with a feathered hat and a decorative sword. This costuming speaks to the blurring of social roles and the embrace of theatricality that characterized the French Rococo period. Fragonard’s loose brushwork and vibrant color palette enhance the sense of spontaneity and lightheartedness, typical of the art produced for the pleasure of elite patrons. Understanding this painting requires us to look beyond its surface. Art historians consult period texts, fashion plates, and social diaries to reconstruct the codes and meanings embedded in such images, revealing how art both reflected and shaped the social identities of its time.