Portrait of Henriette De Meaux De Valliere C.1685; Circle of Francois De Troy (1645-1730)

This oil on canvas is an exquisite example of the type of portrait in vogue in France during the last quarter of the 17th century. It is remarkable in its soft modelling of the face and the translucent quality of the skin. The pearlescent flesh tones and pink lips are set off by a dark background intentionally as this focuses almost entirely on the beauty of the sitter - with no distracting jewelry or background – with the exception of a favourite pet which conveys social status (only the wealthy had the means to feed a pet), and the attributes fidelity and trust.

The inscription identifies the sitter as Henriette de Meaux de Valliere who was born circa 1660 and died in 1694 in Paris. Her father was Antoine de Meaux de Valliere (d.1694) and her mother was Jeanne Jayet (died 1703 in Noyon). Henriette married François Besnier (died 1703 in Versailles) on the 8th June 1683 (this portrait was painted around 1685). The style, treatment, the confident and sophisticated handling, and the fact that her husband was located in Versailles allude to the leading portraitist in Versailles, Francois de Troy (1645-1730), who was the principal painter to King James II.

De Troy was born in Toulouse in 1645 and was taught the basic skills of painting by his father, and possibly by Antoine Durand. Around 1662 he went to Paris to study portrait painting under Claude Lefèbvre (1633–1675) and Nicolas-Pierre Loir (1624–1679 and in 1671, he was approved by the Académie Royale de peinture et de sculpture. After the death of Claude Lefebvre in 1675, Troy concentrated on ortraiture aimed at commissions from Lefebvre's former clients and became a very successful and fashionable painter.

In the 1690s, Troy became the principal painter to the court of King James II in exile, the artist of choice at the Stuart court-in-exile at Saint-Germain. Between 1698 and 1711 he produced a series of portraits of James II and his children. By the years 1698 to 1701, a period of peace between France and Great Britain, Jacobites could cross the English Channel carrying portraits of James Francis Edward Stuart and his sister Princess Louisa Maria.

In 1698, he was appointed a Professor of the Académie Royale, and in 1708 became its Director. He died in Paris at the age of eighty-five. He was able to work continuously in court circles for almost fifty years and was admired for his ability to capture the upper classes and their preoccupation with manners and fashion.

Provenance: Private collection France

Measurements: Height 100cm, Width 62cm framed (Height 39.5”, Width 24.5” framed)

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