Madame François Buron

1769

After his father’s death, the young David was raised by his uncle, architect François Buron, and his wife, Marie-Josèphe Fromont. Madame Buron was supportive of David’s desire to become a painter, in opposition to her husband’s wish that he study architecture. In this intimate early portrait, David presented his aunt looking up momentarily from her reading. Her glance suggests an affectionate bond between the painter and sitter.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

Jacques-Louis David (French, 1748–1825)

Date

1769

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

66.3 × 55.5 cm (26 1/8 × 21 7/8 in.); Framed: 92.4 × 81.6 × 10.2 cm (36 3/8 × 32 1/8 × 4 in.)

Origin

France

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Purchased with funds provided by Mrs. Albert J. Beveridge in memory of her mother, Abby Louise Spencer (Mrs. Augustus Eddy).