CARMONTELLE, Louis Carrogis de
(b. 1717, Paris, d. 1806, Paris)

The Société du Palais-Royal

1773-75
Red and black chalk, watercolour and gouache, heightened with white, 322 x 427 mm
Private collection

At centre, surrounded by the aristocracy of the Palais-Royal, Louis Philippe d'Orléans stands next to his father the duc d'Orléans. Due to his closeness with members of high society, Carmontelle was able to document the daily life of the aristocracy. Thanks to him we are able observe the final flourishing of the nobility under the Ancien Régime, before the changes to society wrought by the Revolution.