Portrait of abbot 

This is a portrait of an abbot by Maurice Quentin de La Tour, made with pastels. Pastels are pure pigment, ground and formed into sticks, and are interesting to me because they fall somewhere between drawing and painting. The powdered form of pastels gives the work a particular softness, a kind of hazy atmosphere around the figure, yet it is applied through a dry process, directly onto the paper. This means the artist must be precise. Look closely at the abbot’s face and you can see the layering of colors. Each subtle variation is built up through careful, considered application. La Tour was celebrated in his time for the liveliness of his portraits. This wasn’t only down to his skill in capturing a likeness, but also in giving the impression of spontaneity, despite the great amount of work involved. The powdered pigment of pastels is unforgiving, so it is a testament to La Tour's mastery, and the skill with which he engaged with the material. This portrait reminds us that artistry isn't just about the final image, but about the deep knowledge of materials and processes.