On Gustav III’s visit to Paris in early 1771, he commissioned a portrait of the Comtesse d’Egmont Pignatelli. Its completion was delayed for various reasons, so Hall finished the portrait on 1 July 1773, after which it was sent to Sweden. The artist has shown the comtesse just after she has opened a letter from Gustav. She is wearing a historical costume, inspired by the popular play Gaston et Bayard. The Comtesse had attended a performance in Versailles and enthusiastically described her impressions of it in a letter to Gustav III. The portrait has a restrained, cool colouring, with the lace washed in white over grey. In his characteristic manner, the artistic has left the ivory around the eyes and mouth. The detailed depiction of the accessories and the setting help make Hall’s work unusually ambitious.