Shop art print and framed art Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon, naturaliste (1707-1788) by François-Hubert Drouais (d'après)

Georges-Louis Leclerc Comte de Buffon: the portrait of an illustrious man

Among the great figures of science and the development of naturalist thought, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788) occupies a special place. A friend of the arts and sciences, and a great traveler, he inspired various artists such as François-Hubert Drouais, who wished to immortalize this multi-faceted man.

François-Hubert Drouais and his meeting with Georges-Louis Leclerc

Born in 1727 and died in 1775, François-Hubert Drouais was a French painter specializing in portraits. It was during a stay in Italy that he made the acquaintance of Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon.

A context conducive to creation

In 1750, aged just 23, Drouais left France for Rome, where he stayed with his painter friend Charles-Joseph Natoire. The Eternal City fascinated many artists at the time, and it was here that the paths of Drouais and the Comte de Buffon crossed for the first time.
Georges-Louis Leclerc's reputation preceded him. Fascinated by flora and fauna, this scholar soon entered the history of the Great Men as the eminent naturalist of the Jardin du Roi, the future Muséum d'Histoire naturelle.

Visual description of the work

The portrait, of imposing stature, depicts Georges-Louis Leclerc in bust form, sporting a bright red velvet garment embroidered with gold and a powdered wig that falls over the nape of his neck.His face exudes serenity and assurance, his eyes are piercing and his gaze seems to challenge the viewer.

The role of this work in the artist's career

This portrait is one of François-Hubert Drouais's masterpieces, representing a decisive turning point in his career. Indeed, through this painting, the artist demonstrates his talent for capturing the very essence of an iron-willed man of science..

Interest in this work has not waned over time; today, it is considered a benchmark among 18th-century portraits.

Even after his death in 1788, the work of Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon continues to inspire future generations. His passion for discovering the world and his immense knowledge of nature are still seminal today, and his theories have enabled some of the greatest scientists of the modern era to lay the foundations for their own research.

As for the portrait painted by François-Hubert Drouais Georges-Louis Leclerc Comte de Buffon, naturalist (1707 - 1788), it remains a unique testimony to the friendship between these two men.

This artwork is a painting from the classical period. It belongs to the french school style.

« Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon, naturaliste (1707-1788) » is kept at Institut de France, Paris, France.