Portrait Of Man Sitting In His Library

Portrait of a man sitting in his library with a book in his hand. Oil on canvas Louis XVI period Louis XVI period frame Usual restorations, rear stretcher, recanvassed H. 48.5 x L. 40.5 cm (with frame) Our portrait presents the characteristics of the so-called “intimate or psychological” portrait (see article from the Palace of Versailles, educational file on the portrait): a portrait which aims to represent the subject in his familiar setting to convey his personality. The character portrayed here is therefore in a familiar attitude, his jacket and vest unbuttoned, suggesting that he is at home. Even his bodily attitude conveys a cleverly casual image, the book carelessly advanced towards the visitor, the gaze of the man lost in his reflections. The affirmation of his social status comes through luxurious clothing - French silk clothing, just like the embroidered vest, the presence of the gilded wooden armchair, and erudition demonstrated by the book. We also notice the ring placed on the man's left little finger: a discreet reminder that he does not work with his hands, and that he therefore belongs to the elite of those who do not practice any servile work, contenting themselves with that of the mind. Although with a lighter touch which may indicate that this painting was reserved for the most private spaces of the apartments, often the study, the painting in our study takes up pictorial codes already explored by great painters. Jean-Baptiste Greuze in his “Portrait of Claude-Henri Watelet” (Louvre, RF 1982 66), Fragonard and “The presumed portrait of Louis-François Prault, formerly known as: Inspiration. » (Louvre, MI 1060), or even François Hubert Drouais and his “portrait of Edme Bouchardon” (Louvre, INV 4108), also made psychological portraits, placing our painting in an artistic movement representative of its time.