Face Of The Child Christ – French School Of The 17th Century

Oil on canvas.
How can one not be touched by the gentleness of this Angevin face? The supple brushwork and delicate coloring recall the art of the masters of French painting of the Grand Siècle, foremost among them Philippe de Champaigne. Indeed, the expressive tranquility observed on the Child's face and a certain chromatic restraint can evoke his universe. But the French painters who were able to paint this divine face are numerous. Even if the art of the Le Nain brothers, Valentin de Boulogne, Simon Vouet, Claude Vignon, Eustache Lesueur, Laurent de La Hyre, or Jacques Stella differs, and their techniques are distinct, certain traits undeniably bring them together. And today, no one hesitates to declare an anonymous painting French when it presents these similarities. Our painter knew how to capture the deep being of his model, giving his portrait a meditative function. Only a talented artist could have painted this youthful face, revealing a deep inner self.

The divine face is set in a carved and gilded wooden frame from the Louis XIV period.
Dimensions: 24 x 18 cm – 40 x 36 cm with the frame

Bibliography:
- MILOVANOVIC, Nicolas, Catalogue of 17th century French paintings in the Louvre Museum, Gallimard Louvre editions, 2021
- MEROT, Alain, French Painting in the 17th century, Gallimard Electa, 1994
- HILAIRE, Michel, RAMADE, Patrick, Grand Siècle, Seuil RMN, 1993
- MAC ALLISTER JOHNSON, William, The King's Painters 1648 – 1793, exhibition catalogue, RMN 2000
- BAJOU Thierry, Painting at Versailles 17th century, Réunion des Musées Nationaux 1998
- Collective work, Philippe de Champaigne 1602 – 1674, Between politics and devotion, RMN, 2007
- KAZEROUNI Guillaume, The Colors of the Sky, paintings of Churches of Paris in the 17th century, exhibition catalog, Paris Museums, 2012