Voltaire at a Chess Table

What it is

Painted in 1772 by Jean Huber, who knew Voltaire personally, this work shows a small group of men gathered around a chessboard. It is now held at the Hermitage Museum, part of a series Huber made of Voltaire's daily life that was acquired by Catherine II of Russia.

Why it matters

Unlike formal portraits, these scenes were painted from close acquaintance and show Voltaire engaged in everyday leisure rather than public performance. Their purchase by Catherine the Great also reflects Voltaire's international fame and his connections to European rulers interested in Enlightenment ideas.

Look closer

• What does the setting tell you about how Huber wanted to portray Voltaire's private life?
• Why might a Russian empress want to own paintings of a French philosopher's everyday activities?
• What does this kind of intimate scene add to our understanding of Voltaire that a formal portrait would not?