Portrait of Charles-Marie de la Condamine

Charles-Marie de la Condamine (1701-1774) was a world-renowned scientist, geographer and mathematician. He was a member of the Académie Royal des Sciences, the Royal Society of London, the Berlin Academy and the Académie Francaise. In this portrait he is shown wearing the insignia of the order of the Knights of Saint-Lazarus. This portrait is thought to have been executed in about 1753, after the scientist's return from South America, where he investigated the circumference of the earth.

De la Tour was the foremost pastel portrait artist of his time. Artists during this period were keen on capturing not just likeness, but a glimpse of personality as well. His contemporary, Diderot, described the artist, "He is a kind of magician able to capture the living presence of his subject." Here this sitter appears caught in mid-conversation, as the artist catches a smile and glance that demonstrate La Condamine's spirit and quick intelligence.