A wonderfully painted and colourful 18thc French school portrait of a gentleman officer of high rank depicted in his formal military attire,with his hands resting confidently on the handle of his sword. He wears an officers white long coat with matching lapels, his sleeves decorated with multiple brass buttons and gold braided epaulettes dress his shoulders.Below his chin he wears a gold silk cravat held in situ by two small blue velvet bows tied either side and finished with a silver decorative broach.His shirt is a blue silk under garment of quality. He confidently wears his black bicorne hat decorated with silver braided cockade and finished with a crimped flower on the side. He proudly wears with distinction the Military Order of St.Louis which is suspended from a crimson red heart fastened with honour to his chest. The officers hands are extremely well defined and his appearance is of nobility, his grey powdered hair held in perfect curls and with a gold ear ring pierced through the lobe of his ear. The portrait has been signed with initials S.R below a crown in the top left corner of the canvas. MILITARY ORDER OF ST.LOUISThe Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis (French: Ordre Royal et Militaire de Saint-Louis) is a dynastic order of chivalry founded 5 April 1693 by King Louis XIV , named after Saint Louis (King Louis IX of France). It was intended as a reward for exceptional officers, notable as the first decoration that could be granted to non-nobles. By the authorities of the French Republic, it is considered a predecessor of the Legion of Honour, with which it shares the red ribbon (though the Legion of Honour is awarded to military personnel and civilians alike). Although officially abolished by the government authorities of the July Revolution in 1830 following the French Revolution, its activities carried on as a dynastic order of the formerly sovereign royal family. As such, it is still reco...