The Musical, attributed to à François de Troy (1645 - 1730)

Attributed to François de Troy (Toulouse 1645 - Paris 1730)
The Musical Company

Oil on canvas,
46.5 x 57.5 cm

Provenance:
Auction, Delon-Hoebanx, Paris, 30 June 2020, lot 123 (attributed to Louis de Silvestre)
Private collection, France

This painting, attributed to François de Troy, depicts a typical late 17th-century chamber music scene, featuring an elegant and refined gathering. The artist, known for his portraits of the aristocratic elite of his time, has captured the intimate and social atmosphere of a group of amateur musicians.

The composition presents six richly dressed figures arranged around a central harpsichord, each engaged in a musical activity. A woman in the center plays the harpsichord, while others play the flute and the viola da gamba, and sing. Their glances reflect a familiarity and harmony within the group. The attention to fabrics, with vibrant and contrasting silks and velvets, is typical of François de Troy’s work and that of his contemporaries, such as Nicolas de Largillierre, who also excelled in portraying elegant interiors.

The warm color palette and soft lighting give the scene a theatrical quality, highlighting the faces and expressions of the characters. Subtle details, such as the small dog seated on the left or the classical bust in the background, enhance the refinement of this interior scene. This type of depiction falls within the tradition of galant scenes and entertainments, highly popular in the salons of the Louis XIV era.

The attribution to François de Troy is justified by the finesse in the portrayal of the figures and the elegance of the poses, which are characteristic of his style. However, the work was also previously attributed to Louis de Silvestre, a painter of the same period, underscoring the stylistic closeness of some artists from this era