Portrait Of A Magistrate, First Half Of The 18th Century.

Oil on canvas depicting a magistrate or high-ranking official in robes, dressed in his official attire consisting of a black robe covered by a red cloak, in accordance with the traditional iconography of members of the sovereign courts during the Regency and the early decades of the reign of Louis XV.

The subject is depicted in a half-length portrait, wearing a voluminous powdered wig with long curls. His direct gaze, the delicate rendering of the skin tones, and the understated background highlight the figure’s dignity and rank.

An old inscription visible in the upper part of the canvas identifies the subject as “Le Sieur de Vatimenil.” This reference may be linked to the Lefebvre de Vatimesnil family, owners of the fief of Vatimesnil in Normandy from the early 18th century onward. Given his apparent age and his magistrate’s attire, the portrait could in particular depict Pierre Georges Lefebvre de Vatimesnil (1662–1742), although this identification cannot be confirmed with certainty.

Portraits of magistrates that retain their original identifying inscriptions are relatively rare today. This inscription adds to the work’s historical significance and suggests a possible connection to a figure belonging to the 18th-century Norman nobility of the robe.

The work displays fine craftsmanship, particularly evident in the rendering of the face, the eyes, and the volume of the wig. The deliberately subdued color palette, dominated by the deep browns of the background and the rich red of the costume, lends the composition a remarkable presence.

The canvas was previously re-stretched to ensure its preservation. It shows some repainting and earlier restorations, as well as wear consistent with its age, while retaining good overall clarity and a very pleasing appearance.

Presented unframed.

Condition: canvas previously re-stretched, some repainting and older restorations, normal signs of wear. In good overall condition.

Dimensions: 81.5 x 65.5 cm.