Allegorical Portrait of Jean-Baptiste Hüet

Gilles Demarteau, the Elder after Jean-Baptiste Hüet, I after Jean-Augustin Léveillé

National Gallery of Art

The image is a classical-style portrait in a reddish tone. It depicts a person's profile with long hair tied back. The portrait is set inside a circular frame with the inscription "HUET NE LE 22 OCTOBRE" and is surrounded by decorative motifs of laurel leaves and roses. Three cherubic figures with curly hair and small wings are engaging in artistic activities; one holds a quill, another supports a blank sheet, and the third gazes at the work. The cherubs are depicted in a playful manner, with one clutching a flower and another holding a brush or pen. Below the frame, there are objects including a scroll, an artist’s palette, and botanical elements. The background of the image is a plain, lightly textured surface.