Charles de la Porte, duc de Meilleraye is depicted here in armour, with the blue ribbon of the Order of St. Esprit. The portrait, painted in enamel by the leading Swiss enamellist, Jean Petitot, derives from an oil painting by Justus van Egmont of 1648, known from an engraving by Robert Nanteuil (1662). The subtle colouring and minute detail, achieved by finely stippled brushwork, is a hallmark of the the technique of Petitot, who is widely considered the finest practictioner of the art of miniature painting in enamel in the seventeenth century. Petitot enjoyed two distinct periods of success during his career; the first, at the English court, saw him develop the art of portrait painting in enamel, with instruction from Sir Anthony Van Dyck and the personal support of Charles I. The second lengthy spell of success followed his arrival at the French court after the onset of the Civil War in England. Here he met with great acclaim, being appointed Court Painter in Enamel to Louis XIV and receiving extensive patronage from the king and his circle until his return to Geneva in 1685. Although Petitot's highest-quality work is generally said to date from his English period, this enamel demonstrates that his best work from his period in France was the equal of any of his earlier output.