Portrait de Madame Du Barry en Flore

Du Barry appears as Flora once more in this 1774 portrait at the Musee des Beaux-Arts d"Agen, another version of the mythological portrait type that Drouais produced repeatedly for the royal mistress. The multiple Flora portraits—each with slight variations—testify to Du Barry"s fondness for this particular mythological identity and to the commercial demand for images of the king"s favorite. Drouais was among the most successful portraitists of pre-Revolutionary France, working in the tradition of his father Hubert Drouais and studying under Carle van Loo, Natoire, and Boucher before establishing himself at court.

The Flora formula is repeated with characteristic professionalism, the floral attributes and classical drapery arranged in a composition that varies subtly from other versions. Drouais"s technique maintains its consistent quality across all versions, the smooth handling and precise detail unchanged. The palette features the warm pinks and greens of the floral theme.