Pastel Portrait By Buffon, After Quentin De La Tour

A presumed pastel portrait of Georges Louis Leclerc, Count of Buffon (1707–1788), a French naturalist, biologist, and mathematician who played a very active role in the Enlightenment; he is best known for his *Natural History* and was a member of the Academy of Sciences. This portrait was masterfully executed by Marguerite Maillard after a pastel by Maurice Quentin de La Tour (1704–1788), considered the prince of pastel artists, as indicated by the handwritten label by its owner on the back of the painting. This portrait is listed in the artist’s catalogue raisonné compiled by Neil Jeffares
. It is preserved in its wooden palmette frame with gilded stucco. 
Good condition, warm patina on the gilding (some retouching to the gilding)
Shipping costs for mainland France: €20; for other destinations, please contact us for an accurate shipping quote.