The Count of Artois and his sister Clotilde

The Count of Artois and his sister Clotilde, grandchildren of Louis XV, are shown together in this 1763 portrait at the Louvre. Artois—the future Charles X, last Bourbon king of France—is depicted as a child with his plump sister in a double portrait that records the royal children at an innocent age. The revolution that would overthrow their family and exile Artois for decades lay far in the future. 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 double child portrait balances the two royal children in a composition that gives each individual prominence while maintaining the pair"s visual unity. Drouais renders their distinct characters—the boy"s energy and the girl"s gentleness—within his smooth, polished technique. The matching or coordinating costumes create decorative harmony, while each child"s face is individually characterized. The palette is bright and youthful.