This exquisitely rendered portrait depicting a charismatic gentleman in fashionable clothing speaks visually to his social status and the fine characterisation provide a sense of the sitter’s strong, yet amiable, character. Painted with a miniaturist’s precision, the high degree of realism is remarkable - typical of Vestier''s minute style – and with the unembellished naturalness, this is a fine example from the last quarter of the 18th century in France.France greatly excelled in the arts during the 18th century; pre-eminent in Europe, it producing some of the highest quality and most sought after works. The French language was the lingua franca of the European courts.Antoine Vestier (1740-1824) was a very successful miniaturist and painter of portraits. He painted mainly portraits and was well known for his exquisite small-scale works that he devoted himself to from about 1789. His daughter was also a painter. His work is held in many museums most notably in his native Fr...