Portrait Of A Lady Of Quality – French School Of The 18th Century.

Oil on canvas from the first half of the 18th century, presented in a Louis XV period frame in carved oak. This female portrait, painted in the 18th century, represents an elegant lady wearing a blue satin dress, embellished with fine lace, gold braid and jewels. The set brooches and the richness of the drapery underline the social rank of the model. The face, treated with sobriety and dignity, stands out against a dark background which highlights the expression and the brilliance of the fabric. The painting has just been restored by a professional restorer in Burgundy: filling of the gaps, small pictorial repairs and application of a reversible matt varnish. It is now in perfect condition, ready to be exhibited. It is mounted in a Louis XV period frame in carved oak, with the original dimensions (not recut). This frame was originally covered with a reparure and gilded; Preserved as we found it, it has been carefully cleaned and waxed, revealing a beautiful natural wood patina. A few small flaws are to be noted but do not affect its quality. The sculpted decoration of foliage, scrolls and rocaille flowers illustrates the finesse of French decorative art of the mid-18th century. This painting is part of the French portrait movement of the Regency and the reign of Louis XV, in the tradition of Rigaud, Largillière, Tocqué or Nattier, from whom it takes the sobriety of the background, the attention paid to the fabrics and the frank rendering of the physiognomies. It is probably a work from a Parisian workshop or a quality provincial painter, sensitive to these models but with a simpler and more direct execution. Dimensions: On view: 80 x 63 cm On frame: 101 x 85 cm