Late 18th-century French School, Portrait of a Gentleman with a Cloak - Antique Oil Painting

Name: Late 18th-century French School, Portrait of a Gentleman with a Cloak - Antique Oil Painting
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1110885
Availability: SoldOut

18th century

Sold by Brave Fine Art

Description

This enchanting late 18th-century French portrait depicts a debonair gentleman wearing a dark green coat, white necktie, and black cloak.

Produced during a time of unparalleled political unrest in France, there’s a certain air of intrigue surrounding this piece from circa 1795. It reminds us in several ways of Jacques-Louis David’s (1748-1825) self-portrait from 1794, which he undertook while imprisoned for his revolutionary views. There’s a shared intensity in the eyes coupled with an underlying sense of restlessness. It’s also plausibly a self-portrait with the artist working from his reflection.

The cloak is a particularly interesting addition as it’s worn over the left shoulder only and could be seen as conveying a symbolic reference. Is he metaphorically concealing his subversive ideologies? Or is it simply an aesthetic tool to increase visual interest?

“The questioning spirit is the rebellious spirit. A rebellion is always either a cloak to hide a prince or the swaddling wrapper of a new rule.” Honoré de Balzac (1799- 1850).

The portrait is signed indistinctly on the right and held in a splendid gilt frame, which is probably original.

Medium: Oil on canvas

Overall size: 23½” x 27” / 60cm x 69cm

Year of creation: c. 1795

Provenance: Private collection, Germany.

Condition: Cleaned. Canvas relined. Areas of fine and settled craquelure, as you would expect. The paint layer is stable. Frame with various marks and showing its age.

Our reference: BRV1975

Physical Dimensions

Height

69cm (27.17")

Width

60cm (23.62")

Depth

5cm (1.97")

Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1110885

Description

This enchanting late 18th-century French portrait depicts a debonair gentleman wearing a dark green coat, white necktie, and black cloak.

“

Produced during a time of unparalleled political unrest in France, there’s a certain air of intrigue surrounding this piece from circa 1795.

Brave Fine Art

It reminds us in several ways of Jacques-Louis David’s (1748-1825) self-portrait from 1794, which he undertook while imprisoned for his revolutionary views. There’s a shared intensity in the eyes coupled with an underlying sense of restlessness. It’s also plausibly a self-portrait with the artist working from his reflection.

fig 1. Late 18th-Century French School, Portrait Of A Gentleman With A Cloak - Antique Oil Painting — fig 1. Late 18th-century French School, Portrait of a Gentleman with a Cloak - Antique Oil Painting

The cloak is a particularly interesting addition as it’s worn over the left shoulder only and could be seen as conveying a symbolic reference. Is he metaphorically concealing his subversive ideologies? Or is it simply an aesthetic tool to increase visual interest?

fig 2. Late 18th-Century French School, Portrait Of A Gentleman With A Cloak - Antique Oil Painting — fig 2. Late 18th-century French School, Portrait of a Gentleman with a Cloak - Antique Oil Painting

“The questioning spirit is the rebellious spirit. A rebellion is always either a cloak to hide a prince or the swaddling wrapper of a new rule.” Honoré de Balzac (1799- 1850).

The portrait is signed indistinctly on the right and held in a splendid gilt frame, which is probably original.

fig 3. Late 18th-Century French School, Portrait Of A Gentleman With A Cloak - Antique Oil Painting — fig 3. Late 18th-century French School, Portrait of a Gentleman with a Cloak - Antique Oil Painting

Medium: Oil on canvas

Overall size: 23½” x 27” / 60cm x 69cm

Year of creation: c. 1795

Provenance: Private collection, Germany.

Condition: Cleaned. Canvas relined. Areas of fine and settled craquelure, as you would expect. The paint layer is stable. Frame with various marks and showing its age.

Our reference: BRV1975