Portrait of a young lady of quality, François de Troy workshop

Oil on canvas
Presented in a very fine 17th-century period frame in finely carved wood, with its original gilding.
Total dimensions with frame: 95 x 82 cm. Canvas alone: 74 x 61 cm.

This portrait, executed around 1685, focuses on the sitter, and is striking for its sparkling, mischievous gaze and calm, serene expression, giving the face a particularly lively character. The social importance of the figure, who is depicted at a very young age, is emphasized with little artifice: a pearl-gray velvet gown embellished with fine lace and a garnet-red stole. Her hairstyle, typical of the period, is called “à la fontange”.

This beautifully crafted painting was created in the studio of painter François de Troy (Toulouse 1645 - Paris November 21, 1730). Born into a family of artists from Languedoc, he trained in Paris in the studio of Claude Lefebvre, who taught him the portraitist's trade. This explains the sure technique and serious atmosphere of his works. De Troy is an heir to the French tradition: his art is imbued with realism and restraint. The sober layout (the subject is seen at mid-body, usually seated) and neutral background enable the emphasis to be placed on the face...
A recognized and much-appreciated painter, he received numerous commissions from both princes and the upper middle classes.

Good condition, sold with certificate