Early 18th Century Portrait Of The Duke Of Meternich

Beautiful oval portrait, oil on canvas, set in an oval carved wooden frame gilded with pure gold leaf, with the upper and lower sections decorated with plant curls and a shell. The back features inscriptions identifying the portrait's subject, the artist, and the date of the work. The painting depicts the Duke of Meternich, ambassador of the Baron of Neuchâtel, wearing a large wig and armor, gazing directly at the painter and the viewer. The painting features a remarkable use of chiaroscuro and detail, making it an exquisite workmanship and historically significant work. The portrait is attributed to the French painter I. Ruber, as signed on the back, active around the beginning of the 18th century (c. 1703).

Dimensions: H x W x D overall 71 x 46 x 6 cm; H x W work only 40 x 30cm