Portrait of a young Marquis - French school of the 18th century

Re-lined canvas 92 cm by 73 cm
Old frame 112 cm by 93 cm

Interesting portrait in an oval with a red velvet coat that comes out of this oval trompe l'oeil. Top left the coat of arms of the Marquis ( Belot de Ferreux, champenoise family ), top right, the inscription oetatis suoe XXIX

Louis Tocqué (1696-1772).

He was a pupil of Nicolas Bertin and Hyacinthe Rigaud. Approved by the Academy in 1731, he became a full member in 1734 by presenting the portraits of Galloche and the sculptor Jean Louis Lemoine. His reputation is great, he was called to the court of Russia by the Empress Elisabeth and remained there for two years before passing through the court of Denmark in 1759 and in fact staying in all the courts of northern Europe where he received a royal welcome there in every sense of the word. From 1737 to 1759, he exhibited numerous works at the exhibitions of the Academy. His touch is recognizable in the details. The representation of the corners of the lips is an example of this. As for the more general style of his painting, there is a search for truth and naturalness in the representation of attitudes... this search, which could be described as modern, is such that he even refused Empress Elisabeth of Russia to modify his very unsightly nose! Louis Tocqué is exhibited in many museums around the world.