|
Although Drouais made his career primarily as a society portrait painter in the tradition of Largillière and Nattier, his portraits 'déguisés' were very different from theirs. Instead of court ladies depicted in the guise of antique goddesses, Drouais chose to depict his ladies and gentlemen (and especially their children) in pastoral guises (say, of shepherds and shepherdesses) or as members of different, perhaps less fortunate classes such as harvest workers or Savoyards. The present portrait depicts the two sons of the Duc de Bouillon dressed as Montagnards. One holds a marmot with a ribbon and the other plays a hurdy-gurdy, both activities associated exclusively with the people of the mountains especially in Savoy and in North Italy.
The painting is signed lower centre: Drouais le fils 1756.
|
