Porträt des Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon

Georges-Louis Leclerc, Count of Buffon, the great naturalist whose monumental Histoire naturelle was one of the Enlightenment"s most ambitious scientific projects, appears in this 1753 portrait. Buffon, who managed the Jardin du Roi and produced forty-four volumes of natural history, was among the most celebrated intellectuals in Europe. Drouais"s portrait captures a man whose scientific writings influenced Darwin and whose literary style earned him a seat in the Academie francaise.

The naturalist is presented with the intellectual dignity appropriate to one of France"s most famous scientists, possibly with references to his work in the form of books, specimens, or the Jardin du Roi. Drouais adapts his court technique to a scholarly subject, with the polished handling creating an image of refined intelligence. The palette may be somewhat more restrained than court portraits, reflecting the scientific world"s preference for substance over display.