Madame Guillotine

The Duc de Choiseul’s beautiful and exceptionally forgiving and sweet natured wife, Louise Honorine de Crozat, Duchesse de Choiseul.

This painting was described by Margaret Trouncer in her book about the Duchesse: ‘A Duchess of Versailles‘:

‘Greuze, who painted her in Rome… has caught her look of reserve – the eyes of a woman who has wept much in secret. A delicate pastel in the possession of Mademoiselle d’Orliac of Chanteloup in Touraine shows the charming hair style, with her chestnut coloured hair arranged in five natural widows’ peaks over her brow; delicate, sensitive eyebrows; a long, slender neck, small nose, full lips. There is an air of serene disenchantment in the eyes. In both portraits there is ample proof that the duchesse was very fastidious and fashionable in her dress and that her hair was arranged by skilled hands. (This was to be expected as she had four ladies maids.) Greuze tucks a bunch of full blown roses into her bodice and there are cherries painted on her ruched coatee. Her sleeves are full lace ruffles, and she has negligently thrown a filmy scarf around her shoulders.’