I haven't been able to find any information on the subject of this suave and sensuously painted portrait save that he was a court counselor of some sort or another.
Working on the stories for our upcoming book, The UNTOLD GAZE, G and I have had to discuss the subject of wigs with some of the writers. Most people have the assumption that everyone in the eighteenth century wore white, powdered wigs, which is not anything like the truth. But this portrait gives us a very good example of the genuine - false - article; Largillière makes no effort to disguise the fact, even showing us a bit of the sitter's cleanly shaved scalp at the hairline.
wonderful portrait -one can just tell it's accurate and thats how he ACTUALLY looked based on the details such as the shaved hairline, etc. He's a handsome man too which helps and the fabric details are luscious.
ReplyDeleteThis portrait makes me want to meet the man.
ReplyDeleteAt home I have two portraits by Philipp de Laszlo, my great grandmother and my grandmother both are fantastic, so when I look to this portrait I believe that the painter had the same inspiration than Laszlo to capture the soul of a person and the deep of his eyes, it is indeeed a wonderful portrait, only Madame Élisabeth Vigée le Brun 60 years later was able to paint so well.
ReplyDeleteAh, very well said! Both Largillière's and Vigée le Brun's work has such freshness. The vivid flesh tones, the clarity of color. And they both have a quality that I can only describe as a healthy voluptuousness.
DeleteOf course I've often written of Philip de László, here; how fortunate you are to have your grandparents by that remarkable artist.