Madame la duchesse douairière de Lesdiguières c. 18th century

Editor: This is Pierre Drevet's portrait of Madame la duchesse douairière de Lesdiguières. I'm struck by the formality of the scene, and the way the light falls. What are your thoughts? Curator: It's like stepping into a dream, isn't it? Drevet masterfully captures the essence of aristocracy with that languid pose and playful cat. But, perhaps more importantly, what do we make of the other figure in the portrait? Editor: Oh, that’s a really good point. I hadn’t considered that other figure. Curator: The tension between the subject and her companion is something to consider, yes? The work is more than just a portrait. It’s a mirror reflecting the complexities of its time. It gives us something to ponder.