18th-century School – Circle Of Jean-marc Nattier – Portrait Of A Young Woman – 126 X 105 Cm

DimensionsCanvas: 106 x 82 cm
Frame: 126 x 105 cm – carved and gilded wood from the Regency period. Sold separately for €1,900

An elegant portrait depicting a young woman of high social standing dressed in a sumptuous blue velvet gown embellished with white lace and muslin. A pink scarf draped over her shoulders enlivens the composition and adds a touch of freshness characteristic of 18th-century French portraiture.

The subject is depicted with grace and naturalness. The delicately sculpted face, her lively gaze, her powdered hairstyle adorned with flowers, and the refinement of her costume immediately evoke the world of the great French portraitists of the reign of Louis XV, and more particularly that of Jean-Marc Nattier, the favored painter of the aristocracy and the court.
Like his master, the artist demonstrates true mastery in the rendering of fabrics, particularly in the luminous effects of the deep blue velvet, the translucency of the cuffs, and the suppleness of the drapery. The darkened landscape background highlights the figure and contributes to the overall elegance of the composition.

In terms of style, palette, and quality of execution, this work can be linked to the circle of Jean-Marc Nattier and to French aristocratic portraiture of the first half of the 18th century.

The work comes from the former collection of the painter Francis Tattegrain (1852–1915) and has been preserved by his descendants to the present day.
It is presented in its remarkable Regency-period carved and gilded wooden frame, adorned with shells, trellises, and foliage, perfectly contemporary with the painting.

ProvenanceFormer collection of Francis Tattegrain (1852–1915)
Preserved by descendants

Some restoration and repainting, notably on the left hand (see photo), as well as touch-ups to the eyebrows.