A Prestigious Venue : L’Inguimbertine at the Hôtel-Dieu

The beautifully restored Hôtel-Dieu in Carpentras provides a perfect setting for this exhibition. Inaugurated in April 2024, this heritage site is now home to the L’Inguimbertine Library-Museum. With nearly 43,000 visitors since its opening, it has established itself as a major cultural institution in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Unique in France, it immerses visitors in the history of Carpentras and the Comtat Venaissin, the world of an 18th-century library-museum, and a grand fine arts gallery.

A Tribute to a Master Portraitist

The exhibition will bring together sixty masterpieces from Duplessis’ extensive body of work—among the 200 paintings he created. These works come from prestigious collections such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, the Château de Versailles, and the Louvre Museum. This outstanding selection will allow visitors to (re)discover the virtuosity of Duplessis, particularly his role as the official portraitist of Louis XVI. The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalog published by Lienart Editions, documenting nearly two hundred of Duplessis’ paintings.

Unparalleled Mastery

Visitors will be particularly struck by Duplessis’ exceptional skill, acknowledged by his contemporaries, in rendering the textures of fabrics and the lifelike quality of skin tones. His ability to capture both the physical likeness and the inner essence of his subjects will be highlighted through a carefully curated selection of works. Each portrait serves as a testament to his mastery in portraying character and emotion.

A Must-See Event

Curated by Xavier Salmon, curator at the Louvre Museum and an expert in 18th-century portraiture, this exhibition promises to be one of the cultural highlights of 2025. It will provide a unique opportunity to understand why Duplessis was considered one of the finest portraitists of his time. Visitors will be able to explore his official commissions from the royal court and Louis XVI’s ministers, his Provençal and Parisian clientele, as well as his rare religious paintings—all within the magnificent setting of the Hôtel-Dieu in Carpentras.

You can now reserve your tickets on our online ticketing platform :
DUPLESSIS (1725-1802) - L’art de peindre la vie

Don’t miss this exceptional event celebrating the artistry and genius of Joseph-Siffred Duplessis, an unfairly overlooked master whose work continues to captivate and inspire.

Photo : CC0 Paris Musées / Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris