Madame Récamier

Gros painted this portrait of Madame Récamier, the famous salon hostess, in 1825 during the late stage of his career. By this time, Récamier had been the subject of famous portraits by David and Gérard. Gros's version shows her in maturity, still commanding the social world of Restoration Paris. Gros's richly colored oil technique bridged David's classical severity—in which he had been trained—with the Romantic colorism that Delacroix would develop in his wake, using warm, vibrant flesh...

Gros renders the celebrated beauty with restrained elegance and a warm palette that flatters the aging sitter. The careful rendering of fashionable dress and the soft, diffused lighting demonstrate his skill in society portraiture.