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Richelieu was painted by Champaigne in several different guises, all of them with unwavering accuracy and concentration, and these portraits are a vivid record of that statesman's determined and brilliant personality. In this full-length portrait, of which there are many versions, all the cardinal's strength of character is revealed, as might be expected in a grand state portrait. His red robes allowed the artist to introduce a richness into an otherwise utterly cold composition. This lack of warmth is one of the reasons why Champaigne has never attracted a popular following.
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