Portrait of a lady - end of the 18th century

Oil on oval canvas. French school, entourage of François de Troy (1645 - 1730)
Our delicate portrait is part of the fashion initiated by François de Troy in the second half of the 17th century in the kingdom of France. Like a snapshot, our painter seizes his model in a movement to turn towards the spectator. In a vegetal setting, the beautiful lady is presented halfway down her body dressed in a rich royal blue dress with coral and gold sleeves and a collar of fine lace. The important jewels that surround the luxurious costume, with two pearls on the sleeves in particular, are the mark of the high rank that our model occupies in society.
Joseph Malliot (1736-1811), in his manuscript "Vie de quelques artistes dont les ouvrages font l'ornement de la ville de Toulouse" summarizes perfectly the art of François de Troy: "Worthy pupil of Lefebvre, his works, full of intelligence and finesse, charmed by the coloring. He deserved and received the highest praise for his portraits of women. Without altering the features, he had the art of adding grace and nobility.

Our portrait is presented in its carved and gilded wood frame of the period.
Dimensions : 39 x 31 cm the view - 53 x 44 cm with the frame

François de Troy (Toulouse 1645 - Paris 21.11.1730) discovered painting under his father's brushes but it was in Paris, with Claude Lefebvre (1632 - 1675), that he perfected and initiated himself to the art of portraiture. He settled there in 1662 and showed a real talent very early on. With his Mercury and Argus, he was admitted to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in 1674 as a history painter, and became director of the Academy in 1708. Alongside Hyacinthe Rigaud and Nicolas De Largillière, François de Troy was one of the greatest portraitists during the reign of Louis XIV. Some historians even attribute to him the invention of the mythological portrait. His son Jean-François de Troy will follow his path and will show an immense talent.