Portrait of a young lady of quality. François de Troy and workshop, 17th century

Oil on canvas, oval shape.

Exceptional 17th-century wooden frame from the south of France, topped with a finely carved pediment bearing a monogram, with its original gilding.

Total dimensions with frame: 121 x 78 cm.
Canvas alone: 77 x 62 cm.

This beautiful portrait, painted around 1685-1690, focuses on the model and is striking for its sparkling gaze and calm, serene expression, which give the face a particularly lively character. The social importance of the figure, who is depicted here as a young man (around twenty years old), is highlighted with few artifices: a garnet velvet dress embellished with fine lace and a light stole. His hairstyle, typical of the period, is known as “à la fontange” with an aigrette and topped with a jewel attached with pearls.
We know of several portraits depicting the same figure, some in private collections, others sold at public auction, and others in museums. Born into a family of artists in Languedoc, he trained in Paris in the workshop of Claude Lefebvre, who taught him the art of portraiture. This explains the confident technique and serious atmosphere of his works. De Troy is an heir to the French tradition: his art is marked by realism and restraint. The sober layout (the subject is seen from the waist up, usually seated) and the neutral background allow the focus to be placed on the face...
A renowned and highly appreciated painter, he received numerous commissions from both royalty and the upper middle class.

Provenance: private collection in Toulouse