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 Lou...