Charles de Cossé (1506–1563), Count of Brissac

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to explore art with you today! nn We're going to look at a very special kind of painting called a miniature portrait. Have you ever seen a portrait so small it could fit in your hand? That's what a miniature portrait is! nn This miniature portrait was painted by an artist named Jean Clouet. He was famous for painting really, really small! This portrait shows a man named Charles de Cossé. He was a very important man a long, long time ago. nn Can you say "Charles de Cossé?" nn Look closely at the painting. What do you see? nn nn Wow, you have great eyes! nn Charles de Cossé is wearing a black hat with a big feather. Do you think that hat is stylish? He's also wearing a white collar that pops out from his black jacket. People used to dress very fancy back then! nn The artist used lots of dark blue paint in the background. What do you think the color blue makes you feel? Maybe it makes you think of the sky or the ocean. nn Even though this painting is tiny, the artist used very small brushstrokes to paint every detail. He wanted us to see how important Charles de Cossé was! nn nn What did you like best about this miniature portrait? nn I hope you had fun learning about Jean Clouet's amazing artwork today! There are so many other incredible paintings and sculptures to discover in the museum. Keep exploring and see what treasures you can find!