Portrait of the Countess Du Barry as Flora

The Countess Du Barry, Louis XV"s last official mistress, is depicted as Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, in this 1769 portrait at the Palace of Versailles. Mythological disguise was a standard convention in French court portraiture, allowing the painter to present the sitter as an idealized figure while displaying the beauty that justified their social position. Du Barry"s portraits by Drouais and other painters are among the most famous images of Ancien Regime court culture.

The mythological costume allows Drouais to combine portrait likeness with the idealized beauty of classical allegory—flowing drapery, exposed shoulders, and floral garlands replacing the restrictions of court dress. The palette is lighter and more varied than formal court portraits, with the flowers and classical drapery introducing pinks, greens, and golds. Du Barry"s celebrated beauty is rendered with Drouais"s most flattering technique, the smooth flesh painting creating an image of perfected femininity.