Chevalier d'Eon

Sitterback to top

• Charles Geneviève Louis Auguste André Timothée d'Eon de Beaumont (1728-1810), Diplomatist and transvestite. Sitter in 3 portraits.

Artistsback to top

• Jean Laurent Mosnier (1743-1808). Artist associated with 2 portraits.
• Thomas Stewart (1766-circa 1801), Painter. Artist associated with 3 portraits.

This portraitback to top

The Chevalier d'Eon was a French soldier, diplomat and transvestite, who was declared to be a woman in 1777. D'Eon lived in Britain from 1762 as a man and from 1785 as a woman during which he was renowned for his public fencing demonstrations. He fought wearing a black dress like this one and his Croix de Saint Louis, awarded for diplomatic achievements on behalf of the French King. His cockade shows his support for the new French Revolutionary government who he wrote to, in 1792, offering to lead an army of women against France's enemies.

Subject/Themeback to top

• On display at the Gallery