Exquisite Portrait of a Nobleman, French C.1800, Follower of Maurice Quentin De Latour (1704-1788)

This lively portrait by an 18th or early 19th century follower of Latour depicts a charismatic and handsome young man in an outdoor setting with moody sky. The sitter has been depicted wearing the finest gentleman’s attire for the period, meticulously rendered, and the style and type of wig was popular circa 1740. The artist endowed the sitter with a distinctive air of charm and intelligence, and excelled at capturing the delicate play of facial features. Here we see the slight upturn of the lips of which shows the personality of the sitter. Latour was renowned to portray psychological depth of the sitter, rather than solely messages through symbolism.

An utterly beautiful painting in very good condition, having recently undergone a professional and sensitive cleaning process, now revealing the signature brushwork and colour. Excellent condition frame.

Provenance: Private collection Stockholm, Sweden

La Tour was born in Saint-Quentin in north-eastern France, the son of a musician. He went to Paris where he studied with the Flemish artist Spoëde. He initially apprenticed as a painter but was attracted to the immediacy and rapid execution of pastel. By the late 1720s he had broken into the Parisian art market and in 1735 established his reputation as a portraitist with a portrait of Voltaire. La Tour was among the most celebrated portrait artists in France during the 18th century. His success led to commissions from the royal family, the French court, the bourgeoisie, and artistic and intellectual circles. Toward the end of his immensely successful career La Tour had amassed a substantial fortune and founded an art school and several charitable organizations.

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