Portret van Madame de Montainville, gitaar spelend 1758

Louis de Carmontelle created this watercolor and graphite portrait of Madame de Montainville in 18th-century France. The delicate rendering and informal pose reflect a shift in aristocratic portraiture away from formal state representation towards a more intimate depiction of private life. The guitar she holds was a popular instrument among the French upper classes and symbolized refinement and artistic accomplishment; Madame de Montainville’s elegant attire and relaxed posture reinforce her privileged status. Carmontelle was known for capturing the likenesses of members of the French court and intellectual circles, creating informal portraits for private circulation within this exclusive society. We might ask how such images mediated social relationships within that rarefied world. The Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris holds many more drawings and prints from this era, offering rich materials for understanding this cultural moment. By studying these resources, we can better appreciate how art both reflected and shaped the social norms of its time.