Ritratto di un nobiluomo francese
Entourage di Nicolas DE LARGILLIÈRE (Parigi 1656 - Parigi 1746)
NICOLAS DE LARGILLIÈRE (Paris 1656 - Paris 1746), circle
Portrait of a gentleman
late 17th century
oil painting on canvas
cm. 59 x 56
with frame 71 x 59
Beautiful portrait, of excellent quality, depicting an austere gentleman who peers intensely towards the observer. He is depicted three-quarters, powdered with the long wig called "Léonine", in a red velvet cloak with embroidered motifs with lace and brocade.
This painting, executed in the second half of the 17th century, is a typical example of the portraiture of Nicolas de Largillière (Paris 1656-1746), who with his works has been able to immortalize the most important and illustrious figures of the flourishing aristocracy under the reigns of Louis XIV and XV, interested in showing the psychological character of the model as in rendering its social class.
He spent his youth in Antwerp and from 1675 to 1679 worked in England, assisting Lely and Verrio. After moving to Paris in 1679, he soon conquered the position of most important portraitist, having rival only Rigaud, almost his contemporary.
Our work can be compared, for style and compositional characters, to the Portrait of a gentleman preserved in the High Museum of Art, in Atlanta (see details), autograph by De Largillière.
The state of conservation is very good, old restorations visible;
Nicolas de Largillière (Paris, 10 October 1656 - Paris, 20 March 1746)
Raised in Antwerp, where his family had moved to 1659, it was in the Flemish city that he began his apprenticeship in the laboratory of Antoine Goubeau from 1668, influenced mainly by Rubens and the Flemish masters. He entered the guild of Sint-Lucasgilde as master of the city in 1674.
From 1675 to 1679 he traveled to England, where he approached the Vandyckian painter Peter Lely and was noticed by King Charles II. He returned there in 1685 to make a portrait of the new King James II.
On his return to France, after 1689 he became one of the most requested painters, both for official positions of ex voto or allegories, and for orders of portraits by nobility and upper middle class. [1] Nicolas de Largillière was, together with Rigaud, the portrait painter of the Regency era. He also proved to be a brilliant still life painter, following the Flemish school. [1]
To the solemnity of the gesture of the person portrayed he added an uncommon search for particular details.
In 1686 he was admitted to the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture, [1] becoming a professor in 1705 and directing it from 1736 to his resignation in 1743.
Among his most important works we can mention: Elisabetta Beaubarnais (Museum of Grenoble); Young man in the guise of Diana (Louvre Museum); Ex-voto in Sainte-Geneviève (church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Paris); Family portrait of Louis XIV (Wallace Collection); Portrait with the family (Louvre Museum).
The painting, like all our objects, is sold with a certificate of photographic authenticity in accordance with the law.
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