Portrait of an Officer, 18th Century, French School

Oil on canvas.

In this intriguing portrait, a gentleman has been depicted in formal officer’s attire of a black coat with a wide gold lapel with silver buttons and epaulettes, a white frilled chemise, stock and lace cravat. He is wearing a black bicorn hat decorated with braided cockade and a large black plume. Three aiguillettes are draped from the shoulder across his waistcoat and threaded through a button hole. A baton of command signifies an elevated rank and the badge of honour is similar to the L’Ordre de Saint-Esprit.

There is a long history of military portraiture. Officer rank was understood as a means of upholding personal and familial honor, affirming the nobility’s service to the Crown and justifying its privileges. In France, this formula had lost some of its popularity by the late 18th century; the humiliating defeat of The Seven Years War had taken a toll on French military vanity and the nobility’s relationship with the King was increasingly adversarial.

This is a large and interesting naval portrait from around the time of the French Revolution. Held in a good quality frame.

Measurements: Height 99cm, Width 79cm framed (Height 39”, Width 31” framed)

Much more info about this item at: www.titanfineart.com

In a market saturated with available paintings, Titan Fine Art offers a distinct advantage: we sift through thousands of works to provide a specially curated selection. Each piece is meticulously chosen based on technical merit, provenance, and decorative appeal, ensuring our clients view only the finest examples of British and European art.

With over 20 years of expertise and 1,000+ works placed with collectors and institutions, we are one of the most prolific specialists in 17th and 18th-century portraiture. We combine a scholarly approach with museum-level rigor to replace the uncertainty of the open market with absolute confidence.

Why Buy From Titan Fine Art?

• Expertly Curated Selection

We act as your expert eye, selecting only high-quality works that offer genuine historical and artistic value.

• Museum-Level Research

Each portrait is supported by extensive academic research, often exceeding 40 hours, to establish attribution, sitter identity, and historical context.

• Professional Conservation

All paintings are carefully cleaned and stabilised by professional conservators, and are presented ready to hang.

• Transparent Pricing

No buyer’s premium or hidden fees—unlike auction houses, where additional costs can add 25–35%.

• Export Pricing Advantage

Reduced pricing is available for works exported outside the UK.

• Specialist Global Shipping

We manage the entire process, including custom crating, export documentation, and fully tracked delivery worldwide.

• Buy with Confidence

A 7-day return policy and the option to pay in GBP, USD, or EUR for convenience and transparency.

• Original Period Frames

Many works retain their original carved and gilded frames, which are works of art in their own right and enhance both historical authenticity and decorative impact.

• Personal Advisory Service

We work directly with collectors and interior designers, offering guidance on selection, scale, and placement—including bespoke room mock-ups on request.

Subscribe to our monthly 'new item alert' to be the first to hear about new works