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Jacques-Louis David) |
The man in this painting was the artist's uncle. Just as you would put on your best clothes to have a formal photograph taken, the man in the painting dressed in one of his best outfits. His coat is decorated with gold braid and fur trim, and his vest is made of satin, a very expensive fabric. Wealthy men (and women too) wore wigs at this time. The wigs were colored white with powder and taken care of by professional hair stylists.
Mr. Desmaisons (day-may-zon) wanted us to know not only that he was rich, but also what kind of work he did. Although his family was wealthy, he worked as an architect. Architects make plans for buildings. Mr. Desmaisons designed buildings for the king of France, who was called Louis XVI. XVI is another way to write the number sixteenÛso he was the sixteenth king of France whose name was Louis. If you look closely, you can see that Mr. Desmaisons is working on drawings of buildings as he poses for his portrait. Can you find a ruler and a compass (used for drawing perfect circles and curved lines)? These are two of the tools an architect needs. The books on the table are also about architecture. It seems as if we have interrupted his work, since he looks a little surprised. What might he say to us? What question or questions would you like to ask him?