Parisian School (c. 1770) - Portrait Of A Gentleman In A Red Coat

Oil on canvas. Original backing. The paintings were fully restored by their previous owner, guaranteeing their stability and excellent current state of preservation. Here we discover a pair of impeccable portraits that immortalize the features of a wealthy Parisian noble couple, dressed with the sumptuousness and extravagance characteristic of the late Rococo style (or early Louis XVI style). The portrait of Monsieur evokes the haughtiness and self-importance befitting his rank, with an air of restrained contentment that denotes the success and prosperity enjoyed throughout a privileged life. This contrasts with the figure of Madame, who reveals an enigmatic and gallant half-smile beneath the shadow of an impressive headdress. This elaborately designed headdress is inspired by oriental exoticism (the turban), a fashion that reflects the taste for the foreign and the theatrical that characterized the atmosphere of the court in the 18th century. These works are a visual testimony to the social splendor and artificial refinement of the pre-revolutionary elite. - Image dimensions without frame: 52 x 63 cm / 62 x 73 cm with a beautiful antique frame.