Portrait of Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans as Venus about to bind the wings of Cupid
Pierre Gobert·1698
Historical Context
This 1698 version of the same subject as Gobert's 1697 portrait — Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans as Venus — suggests that the sitter or her circle commissioned more than one version of the composition. Duplicate or slightly variant portraits were common for major patrons, who might gift versions to different recipients or decorate different rooms. Gobert's ability to satisfy such demands for replication made him a valued court painter in the late Louis XIV period.
Technical Analysis
The composition follows the same mythological scheme as the 1697 version, with the sitter as Venus holding or restraining the winged Cupid. Minor variations in pose or drapery arrangement may differentiate the two works, reflecting the common studio practice of replicated court portraits.
