François André VINCENT (Paris, 1746–1816) - Lot 440

François André VINCENT (Paris, 1746–1816) Portrait of Antoine-Louis Chaumont de La Millière (1746–1803) Oval canvas Height: 81 cm Width: 65 cm Signed on the left: “Vincent p. du roy / 1777” Possibly from the 1777 Salon, “several portraits under the same number” This portrait is reminiscent of the one now housed at the École des Ponts et Chaussées in Champs-sur-Marne. Born in 1746, Antoine-Louis Chaumont de La Millière was the son of Jacques-Louis Chaumont de La Millière, Intendant of Limousin, and the nephew of Antoine-Martin Chaumont de La Galaizière, Chancellor of Lorraine. As Intendant of Finance for Bridges and Roads from 1781 to 1792, he distinguishedly carried on the traditions established by Daniel-Charles and Philibert Trudaine. In 1787, his responsibilities were expanded to include the post of Intendant General of Mines, Mining, and Mineral Resources. That same year and again in 1790, Louis XVI—who considered him the most honest man in the kingdom—twice offered him the post of Controller General of Finances, following in the footsteps of Calonne and Necker, but was never able to overcome his resistance. Amid the upheavals of the Revolution, he defended the Corps of Bridges and Roads and worked toward the adoption of the 1791 laws that permanently organized its administration. Having escaped the dangers of the Revolution, he died in 1803 and was buried in the Montmartre Cemetery. His portrait, donated to the École des Ponts et Chaussées by his daughter, Madame Héron de Villefosse, remains the primary visual record of this prominent figure from the waning days of the royal administration.