The artwork titled “Madame Pierre Seriziat (nee Emilie Pecoul) with her Son, Emile” is an exemplar of Neoclassical portraiture by the esteemed artist Jacques-Louis David, dating from the year 1795. This oil on canvas measures 131 by 96 centimeters and is currently located at the Louvre in Paris, France. The genre of this piece is a portrait, capturing the essence and bearings of its titular subjects with the precision and formality characteristic of the period.
The artwork portrays Madame Emilie Seriziat dressed in a white gown with a cinched empire waistline, accentuated by a green ribbon. Her attire exudes the fashion of the era with its high waist and full sleeves. She dons a wide-brimmed straw hat, adorned with greenery, that frames her gently smiling face, the hat secured by a navy blue ribbon tied elegantly under her chin. In her arm, she gracefully holds a bouquet of flowers, possibly from a casual stroll or as a symbol of domestic virtue.
Behind her, partly hidden but nonetheless integral to the composition, is her son Emile. Emile’s youthful gaze peers out from the edge of the painting, a subtle yet endearing inclusion that contributes to the narrative of mother and child. His presence, while understated, complements the portrait, infusing it with a sense of familial tenderness.
David’s use of light delicately illuminates the skin of the subjects and the texture of the fabrics, showcasing his mastery of the medium. The composition, while simple in its setting, is rich in detail and conveys a feeling of refined elegance and serene domesticity, which is emblematic of the Neoclassical movement, an artistic endeavor that sought to revive the virtues of classical antiquity through harmony, clarity, and restraint.