Exquisite Portrait of a Lady, French 18th Century; Attributed to Louis Dupont (C.1734-1765)

Oil on canvas.

A rare example of the artist’s work, this beautiful 18th century portrait of a lady playing a lute, is the epidemy of the Rococo portrait and the perfect harmony of colour. In the soft modelling of forms and the gentle oval of the face with its slightly rosy cheeks, evident is the influence of Jean Marc Nattier, none other than the court painter to the French royal family, whom Dupont trained under. Here we see the refinement and grace typical of the Rococo portrait. This is a fine example of the artist’s oeuvre with a particularly good treatment of the fabric and close in handling to some of Nattier’s work.

In 18th century France it was fashionable for aristocratic women to have their likenesses made in the guise of mythological or historical roles and you can see this in Dupont’s portrait of a Lady in the Louvre Museum Paris (inventory number RF 1992-413). Nattier specialised in these flattering allegorical portraits and he painted most of the circle of Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour in either traditional or allegorical guise. See the photos attached of Madame Marie-Henriette Berthelot de Pléneuf (1739), Marie-Anne de Bourbon-Condé (1729), and Marie Louise Thérèse Victoire as the personification of water.

Louis Richard Francois Dupont de Montfiquet (c.1734-1765) was born in Montfiquet in Calvados. Early in his career he showed the signs of a master in the making. He was sent to the workshop of Jean-Marc Nattier, known by some as the greatest Rococo painter of all time, in Paris by his patron, the Bishop of Bayeux, Paul d'Albert de Luynes. He worked there from 1758 to 1762 and later in Rouen from 1762 until his death. His work has sold up to $51,940 at auction (Paris, 27th April 2000). See the catalogue of the Nattier exhibition “The true student of Jean-Marc Nattier”, pages 36 and 37 (Xavier Salmon; Castle Versailles, 1999- 2000) for an excerpt on Louise Richard Francois Dupont.

Jean Marc Nattier (1685-1766) was one of the leading portrait painters of the reign of Louis XV and his graceful and charming portraits of court ladies were very fashionable, partly because he could beautify a sitter while also retaining her likeness. He served as official portraitist to the four daughters of Louis XV from 1745, painting those young ladies in innumerable guises and pursuits.

Measurements: Height 82cm, Width 68cm framed (Height 32.25”, Width 26.75” framed)

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