“Chevalier d’Éon”
This oil on canvas portrait painting called, “Chevalier d’Éon”, is by the English artist, Thomas Stewart (after Jean Laurent Mosnier), from 1792. Stewart was known in his day as a portrait artist and set painter for the London theatrical scene, though unfortunately, not much is known about him today.
It was originally thought to be a painting by the American portrait artist, Gilbert Stuart, but after restoration, the signature of Thomas Stewart became visible in the lower left corner.
This is a portrait of Charles Genevieve Louis Auguste André Timothée d’Éon de Beaumont, more commonly known as the Chevalier d’Éon. The painting was lost in 1926 but was rediscovered in 2012. It was originally thought to be a portrait of an older woman, but after undergoing restoration, it was discovered to be a portrait of the famous Chevalier d’Éon (also spy, diplomat, soldier, and transvestite). The medal d’Éon is wearing in the painting is called the Order of St Louis and was given by Louis XV for working in Le Secret du Rois.
Chevalier d’Éon was a French diplomat who lived from 1728 to 1810. In 1755, he joined Louis XV’s elite spy network, Le Secret du Rois. In 1763, he was sent to London to try and broker a peace between France and Britain but was simultaneously sent to spy on the British. At this time, it is believed that he was already surreptitiously wearing female clothing, though it was not in general public knowledge.
After Louis XV died, d’Éon found that he had an unfavorable image with the French government and his job was given to someone else. He was ordered to return back home to France. In response and defiance, d’Éon stayed in England and published some highly confidential French government information.
Eventually, d’Éon returned to France and successfully blackmailed the French government to ensure his safety. The French king (now Louis XVI) promised to let d’Éon live out the rest of his days, but only if he spent them living as a woman, to which d’Éon readily agreed. The king even provided money with which to purchase a new wardrobe. Let me assure you that this was quite an odd request in its day so his personal habits must have made their way into public knowledge.
In 1785, after the French Revolution, d’Éon returned to England as a woman and found herself quite popular in London society. She performed on the stage and won fame in tournaments as a female fencer. Mary Wollstonecraft, the English writer and feminist, said that d’Éon was “a shining example of female fortitude, someone women should look at and aspire to.”
The last years of her life, d’Éon spent living with an older woman who was quite surprised when she helped prepare d’Éon’s body after her death and found that she was biologically male. Today, she is known as the “Patron Saint of Transvestites”.
“Chevalier d’Éon” is currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. It is actually one of four portraits of the spy, Chevalier d’Éon, in their collection.
For more on Thomas Stewart, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
