Portrait of the Chevalier de Lézay

Son of a shoemaker, Carmontelle tutored children of the nobility and served as a topographical artist during the Seven Years’ War (1756–63). This portrait of a fellow soldier in his regiment, the Dragons de Beaufremont, was made early in his artistic career (few of his works from this period have survived). Carmontelle later joined the household of Louis-Philippe, Duc d’Orléans, and produced over 750 portraits of the people he encountered there.