Guillaume du Vair

This portrait of Guillaume du Vair at the Louvre depicts the French statesman and philosopher who served Henri IV as Keeper of the Seals and was president of the Parlement of Aix-en-Provence. Du Vair, who died in 1621, is represented in formal judicial or administrative dress, his expression conveying the gravitas appropriate to his offices. For Chassériau to paint a retrospective portrait of a historical figure—rather than a living person from observation—suggests either a posthumous commission from descendants or an institutional decorative program requiring historical portraiture. The work demonstrates Chassériau's range across contemporary society, Orientalist narrative, mythological figure painting, and historical portraiture.

The historical portrait is rendered with Chassériau's precise draughtsmanship and warm coloring, the statesman's features depicted with the combination of likeness and idealization characteristic of his portrait style.