Portrait of Louis Léopold Boilly

The 100 Most Famous Louis Léopold Boilly Paintings, Each One of a Kind

Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 203 works by Louis Léopold Boilly in our catalogue

In short

Meeting of thirty-five heads of expression (Réunion de trente-cinq têtes d'expression) is the Louis Léopold Boilly painting that draws the most eyes. After it, the eye goes to Portrait de Maximilien Robespierre and Portrait of de Michel du Roс, the Count de Frioul (1807). Among the 203 works of Louis Léopold Boilly in our catalog, these 100 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.

1761 – 1845, La Bassée Neoclassicism Most works: Carnavalet Museum

Top 10 paintings by Louis Léopold Boilly, through the gallery's eye

1
Meeting of thirty-five heads of expression (Réunion de trente-cinq têtes d'expression) by Louis Léopold Boilly

Meeting of thirty-five heads of expression (Réunion de trente-cinq têtes d'expression)

Oil On Panel

The oil on panel painting, Meeting of thirty-five heads of expression (Réunion de trente-cinq têtes d'expression), presents a dense gathering of figures arranged in a crowded, social assembly. The composition features at least fifteen distinct individuals, both men and women, whose faces occupy the majority of the visual field. These figures are positioned in close proximity, creating a sense of immediate social interaction. Some individuals appear to be in mid-conversation,…

2
Portrait de Maximilien Robespierre by Louis Léopold Boilly

Portrait de Maximilien Robespierre

Oil On Canvas · Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, Lille

We find ourselves before Portrait de Maximilien Robespierre, a significant work by the French artist Louis Léopold Boilly. This portrait captures the likeness of Maximilien Robespierre, a figure central to the historical landscape of France. It was executed around 1791, a period of profound transition in the country's social and political fabric.

3
Portrait of de Michel du Roс, the Count de Frioul (1807) by Louis Léopold Boilly

Portrait of de Michel du Roс, the Count de Frioul

1807 · Oil On Canvas · Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg

The Presence of Command The Count de Frioul meets the gaze of the observer with a serene, focused intensity that commands the space around him. He sits in a bust-length pose, his body angled slightly toward the right while his eyes remain fixed upon us, creating an immediate sense of connection. The lighting, descending from the upper left, carves the contours of his face and neck with soft shadows, lending…

4
Caroline Mortier de Trévise (1810) by Louis Léopold Boilly

Caroline Mortier de Trévise

1810 · Oil On Canvas · National Gallery of Art, Washington

A young girl sits in the quietude of a soft, dim light, her large eyes fixed directly upon the viewer. There is an immediate, silent connection established here, as if she has just paused mid-breath to acknowledge a passing stranger. Her dark brown hair, slightly unkempt, frames a face marked by a gentle, somber warmth. The skin of her cheeks and lips carries a subtle hint of rosy pink, providing…

5
Gabrielle Arnault as a Child (1815) by Louis Léopold Boilly

Gabrielle Arnault as a Child

1815 · Oil On Canvas · The Louvre, Paris

To gaze upon Louis Léopold Boilly's depiction of Gabrielle Arnault as a Child is to be invited into a hushed, perfectly preserved moment of domestic tranquility. The canvas captures more than just a portrait; it arrests time itself. We see a young girl, clad in what appears to be a delicate white dress accented with a graceful bow at the back, cradling a peacefully resting cat. This intimate tableau speaks…

6
Portrait of a Gentleman (1800) by Louis Léopold Boilly

Portrait of a Gentleman

1800 · Oil On Canvas · Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles

This oil on canvas painting, titled Portrait of a Gentleman, was executed by the French artist Louis Léopold Boilly. It is a formal portrait that captures a single subject in a moment of quiet dignity. The work belongs to the genre of portraiture, focusing on the likeness and character of the individual depicted.

7
portrait of presumably Jean-Frédéric Perrégaux (1744-1808) (1800) by Louis Léopold Boilly

portrait of presumably Jean-Frédéric Perrégaux (1744-1808)

1800 · Oil On Canvas · Musée Fesch, Aix-en-Provence

In this intimate bust-length portrait, we find ourselves in a private moment with a man who likely lived through the shifting tides of the late eighteenth century. The subject, thought to be Jean-Frédéric Perrégaux, gazes directly at us with a steady, unflinching expression that bridges the gap between his era and our own. There is a certain dignity in his posture, a quiet composure that suggests a life of intellect…

9
Portrait of General J.-B. Kleber (1794) by Louis Léopold Boilly

Portrait of General J.-B. Kleber

1794 · Oil On Canvas · Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg

The portrait presents a full-length view of General J.-B. Kleber, positioned in the foreground against a vast landscape. The subject is depicted in a standing posture, with his right arm extended toward the right side of the frame. He wears a dark navy blue military uniform, which is interrupted by a bright red sash at the waist. His breeches and gloves are white, providing a sharp tonal contrast to the…

10
The Young Harpist (1805) by Louis Léopold Boilly

The Young Harpist

1805 · Oil On Canvas · Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven

The Young Harpist is an oil on canvas painting attributed to Louis Léopold Boilly. This work, which depicts a young woman sitting while playing a harp, was created between 1804 and 1806. It offers a quiet glimpse into the refined domesticity of the early nineteenth century.

Louis Léopold Boilly's famous paintings, numbers 11 to 100

11The Gentle Awakening (1795) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Gentle Awakening1795 · Musée Cognacq-Jay 12Various Objects (1785) by Louis Léopold BoillyVarious Objects1785 13The Toilet (1785) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Toilet1785 14The Precipitate Departure (1790) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Precipitate Departure1790 · Musée Cognacq-Jay 15Presumed Portrait of Lucile Desmoulins (1790) by Louis Léopold BoillyPresumed Portrait of Lucile Desmoulins1790 · Musée Cognacq-Jay 16The letter (1787) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe letter1787 · Collection Bemberg 17The Ninth Month (1790) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Ninth Month1790 · Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art 18Portrait of Jan Anthony d'Averhoult (1756-1792) (1792) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of Jan Anthony d'Averhoult (1756-1792)1792 · Centraal Museum 19Profile of a Young Woman's Head (1794) by Louis Léopold BoillyProfile of a Young Woman's Head1794 · Los Angeles County Museum of Art 20Heart Recognition (1790) by Louis Léopold BoillyHeart Recognition1790 21Alleged portrait of Lucile Desmoulins (1790) by Louis Léopold BoillyAlleged portrait of Lucile Desmoulins1790 · Carnavalet Museum 22The Descent of the Staircase (1800) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Descent of the Staircase1800 · Musée Cognacq-Jay 23Portrait of an Actor, in a Red Jacket Trimmed with Fur (1800) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of an Actor, in a Red Jacket Trimmed with Fur1800 · Carnavalet Museum 24Portrait of an Actor, in White Jacket with Red Collar (1800) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of an Actor, in White Jacket with Red Collar1800 · Carnavalet Museum 25The Passage of the Pont Royal, around 1800 (1800) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Passage of the Pont Royal, around 18001800 · Carnavalet Museum 26Portrait of General Jean-Baptiste Kléber (1753-1800) (1800) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of General Jean-Baptiste Kléber (1753-1800)1800 · Carnavalet Museum 27Portrait of Mme d'Aucourt de Saint-Just (1800) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of Mme d'Aucourt de Saint-Just1800 · Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille 28Portrait of Charles d'Aucourt de Saint-Just (1800) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of Charles d'Aucourt de Saint-Just1800 · Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille 29Portrait of a Lady (1800) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of a Lady1800 · Los Angeles County Museum of Art 30Studio of a Woman Artist (Studio of a Female Artist) (1800) by Louis Léopold BoillyStudio of a Woman Artist (Studio of a Female Artist)1800 · Pushkin State Museum 31a family -scene (1796) by Louis Léopold Boillya family -scene1796 · Musée d'art moderne (Saint-Étienne) 32Ah ! Le Voilà ! (1804) by Louis Léopold BoillyAh ! Le Voilà !1804 · Musee des Beaux-Arts 33The Artist's Wife in His Studio (1797) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Artist's Wife in His Studio1797 34The Triumph of Tsar Alexander I or The Peace (1814) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Triumph of Tsar Alexander I or The Peace1814 35Portrait of Mademoiselle Athénaïs d'Albenas (1807) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of Mademoiselle Athénaïs d'Albenas1807 · Petit Palais 36Portrait of a Woman in a White Dress (1805) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of a Woman in a White Dress1805 · Carnavalet Museum 37The Cuckoos on the Quai des Tuileries (1805) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Cuckoos on the Quai des Tuileries1805 · Carnavalet Museum 38Portrait of Jean-Baptiste Corsse (1760-1815), actor (1805) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of Jean-Baptiste Corsse (1760-1815), actor1805 · Carnavalet Museum 39Portrait of Caroline Branchu (1780-1850), singer (1810) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of Caroline Branchu (1780-1850), singer1810 · Carnavalet Museum 40Portrait Said to be of Captain Jules Raulin (1810) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait Said to be of Captain Jules Raulin1810 · Carnavalet Museum 41Portrait of Madame Corsse (1805) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of Madame Corsse1805 · Carnavalet Museum 42Portrait of a Man (1814) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of a Man1814 · Allen Memorial Art Museum 43Portrait of a Young Woman (1812) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of a Young Woman1812 · National Gallery of Canada 44Interior with mother and child (1817) by Louis Léopold BoillyInterior with mother and child1817 · Bavarian State Painting Collections 45The Present (1810) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Present1810 · Statens Museum For Kunst 46Portrait of Henri Benner (1810) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of Henri Benner1810 · Musée Des Beaux Arts 47Second Scene of Burglars: The Burglars Arrested (1810) by Louis Léopold BoillySecond Scene of Burglars: The Burglars Arrested1810 48L'entrée au jardin turc (1812) by Louis Léopold BoillyL'entrée au jardin turc1812 · J. Paul Getty Museum 49Portrait of Madame Saint Ange Chevrier in a Landscape (1807) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of Madame Saint Ange Chevrier in a Landscape1807 · Nationalmuseum 50Alexandrine-Sophie de Bawr (1819) by Louis Léopold BoillyAlexandrine-Sophie de Bawr1819 · Harvard Art Museums 51Portrait Said to be of Colonel Gustave Pourlin (1827) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait Said to be of Colonel Gustave Pourlin1827 · Carnavalet Museum 52Politicians in the Tuileries Gardens (1832) by Louis Léopold BoillyPoliticians in the Tuileries Gardens1832 · Hermitage Museum 53At the Dentist (1840) by Louis Léopold BoillyAt the Dentist1840 · Ernest Zmeták Art Gallery 54The movings (1840) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe movings1840 · Musée Cognacq-Jay 55Antoine Houdon in His Studio Modeling the Bust of Bonaparte (1850) by Louis Léopold BoillyAntoine Houdon in His Studio Modeling the Bust of Bonaparte1850 56The Warm Hand (1850) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Warm Hand1850 57The Delicate Gift (1850) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Delicate Gift1850 · Musee des Arts Decoratifs 58Maternal Advice (1850) by Louis Léopold BoillyMaternal Advice1850 · Musee des Arts Decoratifs 59Der Indiskrete (1795) by Louis Léopold BoillyDer Indiskrete1795 · Musée Cognacq-Jay 60Portrait of a Man (1825) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of a Man1825 · Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen 61The Visit Returned (1789) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Visit Returned1789 · Wallace Collection 62Abbé Leynoy by Louis Léopold BoillyAbbé LeynoyNationalmuseum 63Une scène de la vie publique de Pierre Nicolas de Fontenay, maire de Rouen en 1792 (titre moderne) Trait de courage de M. de Fontenay maire de Rouen (titre d'origine) by Louis Léopold BoillyUne scène de la vie publique de Pierre Nicolas de Fontenay, maire de Rouen en 1792 (titre moderne) Trait de courage de M. de Fontenay maire de Rouen (titre d'origine) 64portrait of a white haired man, half length, wearing glasses by Louis Léopold Boillyportrait of a white haired man, half length, wearing glasses 65Painter (1785) by Louis Léopold BoillyPainter1785 · Hermitage Museum 66Beware of the Cat by Louis Léopold BoillyBeware of the CatBavarian State Painting Collections 67Berthe Juliette Dubois by Louis Léopold BoillyBerthe Juliette DuboisThe Louvre 68Portrait of a Boy (1805) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of a Boy1805 · Metropolitan Museum of Art 69S’il Vous Plaît (1790) by Louis Léopold BoillyS’il Vous Plaît1790 · Toledo Museum of Art 70Le vieillard jaloux (1791) by Louis Léopold BoillyLe vieillard jaloux1791 71Still-Life of Flowers in a Glass Vase (1790) by Louis Léopold BoillyStill-Life of Flowers in a Glass Vase1790 72The Suitor's Gift (1790) by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Suitor's Gift1790 73Trompe l'oeil Tabletop (1793) by Louis Léopold BoillyTrompe l'oeil Tabletop1793 74View of a Lake (1797) by Louis Léopold BoillyView of a Lake1797 · Los Angeles County Museum of Art 75Young Lady Reading in a Landscape (1798) by Louis Léopold BoillyYoung Lady Reading in a Landscape1798 · Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University 76L'incroyable parade (1797) by Louis Léopold BoillyL'incroyable parade1797 77Portrait of a Young Woman (1798) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of a Young Woman1798 78Family game of checkers (1803) by Louis Léopold BoillyFamily game of checkers1803 79Houdon modelant le buste de Laplace dans son atelier (1803) by Louis Léopold BoillyHoudon modelant le buste de Laplace dans son atelier1803 80At the Entrance (1796) by Louis Léopold BoillyAt the Entrance1796 81Malvina Mortier de Trévise (1812) by Louis Léopold BoillyMalvina Mortier de Trévise1812 · National Gallery of Art 82A Man Vaccinating a Young Child Held by Its Mother, with Other Members of the Household Looking On (1807) by Louis Léopold BoillyA Man Vaccinating a Young Child Held by Its Mother, with Other Members of the Household Looking On1807 83Portrait of a Lady (1820) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of a Lady1820 84Les Hommes se disputent (1818) by Louis Léopold BoillyLes Hommes se disputent1818 85Les Femmes se battent (1818) by Louis Léopold BoillyLes Femmes se battent1818 86Portrait of a Boy (1823) by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of a Boy1823 87Mon pied de b uf (1824) by Louis Léopold BoillyMon pied de b uf1824 · Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille 88La partie de dames au café Lamblin au Palais Royal (1824) by Louis Léopold BoillyLa partie de dames au café Lamblin au Palais Royal1824 · Condé Museum 89Pierre Paul Royer Collard by Louis Léopold BoillyPierre Paul Royer CollardThe Louvre 90MONSIEUR ARNAULT DE GORSE by Louis Léopold BoillyMONSIEUR ARNAULT DE GORSEThe Louvre 91MADAME NICOLAS VINCENT ARNAULT by Louis Léopold BoillyMADAME NICOLAS VINCENT ARNAULTThe Louvre 92Joseph Reade (1825) by Louis Léopold BoillyJoseph Reade1825 · Yale University Art Gallery 93antoine vincent arnault by Louis Léopold Boillyantoine vincent arnaultThe Louvre 94Scène de cabaret by Louis Léopold BoillyScène de cabaretThe Louvre 95The Young Artist by Louis Léopold BoillyThe Young ArtistDallas Museum of Art 96General Bertrand (1900) by Louis Léopold BoillyGeneral Bertrand1900 97Triumph of Amphitrite by Louis Léopold BoillyTriumph of AmphitriteFine Arts Museums of San Francisco 98lady with child at a table by Louis Léopold Boillylady with child at a table 99Presumed portrait of Madame Boilly, and her three sons by Louis Léopold BoillyPresumed portrait of Madame Boilly, and her three sons 100Portrait of a Man by Louis Léopold BoillyPortrait of a Man

Louis Léopold Boilly's famous paintings, period by period

The subjects that held Louis Léopold Boilly's eye

The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.

The museums that keep Louis Léopold Boilly's originals

The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Louis Léopold Boilly Paintings from this list
Carnavalet Museum, ParisCarnavalet Museum Paris 17 Alleged portrait of Lucile Desmoulins, Portrait of an Actor, in a Red Jacket Trimmed with Fur, Portrait of an Actor, in White Jacket with Red Collar
The Louvre, ParisThe Louvre Paris 20 Gabrielle Arnault as a Child, Berthe Juliette Dubois, Pierre Paul Royer Collard
Musée Cognacq-Jay, ParisMusée Cognacq-Jay Paris 6 The Gentle Awakening, The Precipitate Departure, Presumed Portrait of Lucile Desmoulins
Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, LillePalais des Beaux-Arts de Lille Lille 8 Portrait de Maximilien Robespierre, Portrait of Mme d'Aucourt de Saint-Just, Portrait of Charles d'Aucourt de Saint-Just
Hermitage Museum, Saint PetersburgHermitage Museum Saint Petersburg 5 Portrait of de Michel du Roс, the Count de Frioul, Portrait of General J.-B. Kleber, Politicians in the Tuileries Gardens
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los AngelesLos Angeles County Museum of Art Los Angeles 4 Portrait of a Gentleman, Profile of a Young Woman's Head, Portrait of a Lady
National Gallery of Art, WashingtonNational Gallery of Art Washington 4 Caroline Mortier de Trévise, Malvina Mortier de Trévise
Musee des Arts Decoratifs, ParisMusee des Arts Decoratifs Paris 3 The Delicate Gift, Maternal Advice

Louis Léopold Boilly across the decades: one unique original for each

Works per decade

Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.

Louis Léopold Boilly's paintings: questions for the gallery

What is the single most famous work of Louis Léopold Boilly?Reveal the answer

Meeting of thirty-five heads of expression (Réunion de trente-cinq têtes d'expression). Portrait de Maximilien Robespierre and Portrait of de Michel du Roс, the Count de Frioul (1807) come next.

Which ten paintings by Louis Léopold Boilly are the most famous?Reveal the answer

Meeting of thirty-five heads of expression (Réunion de trente-cinq têtes d'expression), Portrait de Maximilien Robespierre, Portrait of de Michel du Roс, the Count de Frioul, Caroline Mortier de Trévise, Gabrielle Arnault as a Child, Portrait of a Gentleman, portrait of presumably Jean-Frédéric Perrégaux (1744-1808), Garlanding the Statuette of Cupid, Portrait of General J.-B. Kleber and The Young Harpist. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.

How many works by Louis Léopold Boilly are known?Reveal the answer

Our catalog holds 203 works by Louis Léopold Boilly, dated from 1785 to 1840.

Where can the most famous Louis Léopold Boilly originals be seen?Reveal the answer

Mostly in Carnavalet Museum (Paris), The Louvre (Paris) and Musée Cognacq-Jay (Paris). The museum table above lists them all.

During which period did Louis Léopold Boilly create the best-known paintings?Reveal the answer

In 1800s: 24 of the 100 works on this page were made then, Portrait of de Michel du Roс, the Count de Frioul among them.

Which famous Louis Léopold Boilly painting is the earliest, and which the latest?Reveal the answer

On this page, the earliest is Various Objects (1785) and the latest At the Dentist (1840).

What subjects did Louis Léopold Boilly favour?Reveal the answer

Woman (32), Man (29) and Dark background (13), across the 100 works on this page.

What materials did Louis Léopold Boilly paint with most?Reveal the answer

Oil On Canvas, for 51 of the 100 works on this page.

Which movement does the work of Louis Léopold Boilly belong to?Reveal the answer

Neoclassicism, judging by the originals on this page.

What Louis Léopold Boilly originals can I see at the Carnavalet Museum?Reveal the answer

Alleged portrait of Lucile Desmoulins, Portrait of an Actor, in a Red Jacket Trimmed with Fur and Portrait of an Actor, in White Jacket with Red Collar: the Carnavalet Museum, Paris holds 12 of the works on this page.

Louis Léopold Boilly: a portrait of the artist

Louis Léopold Boilly: A Life in Portraiture and Parisian Society

  • Born: July 5, 1761, La Bassée, France
  • Died: January 4, 1845, Paris, France

Early Life and Artistic Development

  • Boilly's artistic journey began early; he produced works as young as twelve. Largely self-taught, his initial training included trompe-l’oeil painting under Dominique Doncre.
  • His talent was recognized by the Augustinians of Douai in 1774, leading to an invitation from the Bishop of Arras. This period saw him create over three hundred small portrait paintings.
  • Early works often featured amorous and moralizing subjects, demonstrating a developing skill in capturing likenesses and details.

Artistic Style and Key Works

  • Style: Boilly's style is characterized by meticulous detail, careful coloring, and a focus on depicting everyday life within the French middle class. He skillfully blended portraiture with genre scenes.
  • Evolution: After 1794, his compositions became more crowded, reflecting the bustling social scene of Paris. His portraits gained widespread acclaim, with over 5,000 painted throughout his career.
  • Notable Works:
    • The Suitor's Gift – An early work showcasing amorous themes and meticulous detail.
    • Triumph of Marat – A patriotic piece created to avoid condemnation during the Reign of Terror.
    • The Arrival of a Mail-Coach in the Courtyard of the Messageries – A vibrant depiction of Parisian life and transportation.
  • Optical Illusions: Boilly was fascinated by optics, as demonstrated in works like *Un Trompe-l'œil*, which introduced the term to describe his technique of creating realistic imagery that mimics three-dimensional objects.

Recognition and Legacy

  • Salon Success: Boilly received a medal from the Paris Salon in 1804, solidifying his reputation as a skilled artist.
  • Honors: He was decorated as a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur in 1833, recognizing his contributions to French art.
  • Family Influence: His son, Alphonse Boilly, became a professional engraver and apprenticed in New York with Asher Brown Durand.
  • Historical Significance: Boilly’s work provides invaluable insights into the social customs, fashion, and daily life of the French middle class during a period of significant political upheaval. He is remembered as one of France's most celebrated portraitists and genre painters.

Museum Holdings

  • Musée des Beaux Arts, Lille: Holds Triumph of Marat among other works.
  • Louvre Museum: Features selections from Boilly’s extensive oeuvre.
  • National Gallery of Art (Washington D.C.): Possesses several paintings including *Self-Portrait*, *Les Amateurs de Tableaux* and *The Public in the Salon of the Louvre, Viewing the Painting of the "Sacre"*.
  • Getty Museum: Holds a collection of Boilly's works.