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Nicolas de Largillière

Price Tax incl.:
38000 EUR

Nicolas de Largillière (Paris, 1656-1746) Portrait of a woman, circa 1695 Late 17th century French school Oil on canvas: h. 76 cm, w. 61 cm Overlay Louis XIV-style gilded and carved wood frame Framed: h. 97 cm, w. 82 cm The portrait will be included in the catalog raisonné of Nicolas de Largillierre's work, currently being prepared by Dominique Brême, director of the Musée du Domaine Départemental de Sceaux and a specialist on the artist. Our work presents a majestic French aristocrat against a twilight landscape. The young woman's face is seen from the front, her body turned in three-quarter view, and she is portrayed at mid-body, revealing her slender, belted waist. With her elongated face, rosy cheeks, almond-shaped eyes, straight nose and strong chin, the young woman's solemn expression gives way to a half-smile that highlights the dimple in her chin. Her milky-white complexion is worked in glazes to create an almost tangible transparency and velvety softness. Styled "a la Fontange", her powdered hair is pulled up and tied with a pink ribbon, with two curls framing her forehead and a mass of curly locks falling over her back and shoulders. A jewel is tucked into her high bun. She is dressed in a shimmering silver silk gown over a white blouse whose lace is revealed at the bodice. An ample pink satin coat in orange hues envelops her figure, animated by angular folds of crumpled fabric. The fiery flashes of the pink fabric clash with the frosty sheen of the silver satin. By juxtaposing opposing colors, the painter accentuates the contrast. The fiery reflection of the pink is reflected in the corset like fire in a mirror. This breathtaking effect testifies to Nicolas de Largillière's great ingenuity, his daring handling of the palette in the wake of Antoine Van Dyck. This extremely intense chromatic range contrasts with the sober background of the classical landscape with its darkened sky. The almost electric light of the theatrical setting accentuates the whiteness of skin tones and the brilliance of fabrics. The painter's virtuosity shines through in the treatment of the fabrics, the shimmering effects, the spontaneity in the rendering of texture, for the care given to clothing is as important in the art of portraiture as the model herself. La jeune inconnue is not only an image of a fresh, desirable young woman in the full bloom of youth and beauty. Accented by tight framing, our model's presence gains in intensity. Our portrait, the reflection of an elegant and refined society, is seductive in its striking effect, combining the painter's prodigious talent with the model's natural grace and beauty. In the absence of any distinguishing marks on our painting, the identity of our noble lady remains unknown. Our portrait will be included in the catalog raisonné of Nicolas de Largillierre's work, currently being prepared by Dominique Brême, director of the Musée du Domaine Départemental de Sceaux and a specialist on the artist. Nicolas de Largillière (Paris, 1656-1746) Nicolas de Largillière, born on October 2, 1656 in Paris, where he died on March 20, 1746, was a French painter. Of Flemish origin, although born in Paris, he spent his childhood in Antwerp, apprenticed to the landscape painter Antoine Goubau. In 1673, he moved to England, where he worked as an assistant in the studio of portraitist Peter Lely for several years. In London, Largillierre discovered the art of portraiture and assimilated the fine lessons of Antoine van Dyck's British successor. On his return to France, he was admitted to the Académie Royale in 1683, and three years later received the title of "Painter of Portraits and History" on presentation of his Portrait of Charles Le Brun. He was one of the most renowned portraitists of the 17th and 18th centuries. Nicolas de Largillière's long career spanned the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV, during which he established himself as a leading portraitist. His female effigies, in particular, are striking for their introspective character and rich decoration.

Galerie Nicolas Lenté
2, rue des Saints-Pères
75007 Paris
contact@galerienicolaslente.com
Tel. 06 64 42 84 66