Charles de Cossé (1506–1563), Count of Brissac

Jean Clouet's portrait of Charles de Cossé, Count of Brissac, from around 1535 demonstrates this French court painter's mastery of the official portrait manner he developed for the court of Francis I. Clouet, of Flemish origin, synthesized the Flemish tradition of precise facial observation with the Italian Renaissance interest in three-dimensional space and dignified self-presentation to create the distinctive style of French court portraiture. Brissac was a military commander who would become Marshal of France and a figure of importance in the Italian Wars. Clouet's portraits are characterized by a precise, crystalline quality — every feature of the face recorded with miniaturist precision — combined with the imposing presence appropriate to a subject of aristocratic and military standing. His drawings, of which many survive, were often more direct than his painted versions.

Executed on vellum, this miniature demonstrates Clouet's exquisite draftsmanship and his ability to convey character through subtle modeling. The precise rendering of facial features combines Northern European precision with the idealized elegance characteristic of the Fontainebleau court style.