French school, ca. 1700.

French school, ca. 1700.
"Portrait of a gentleman".
Oil on canvas.
Relined.
It presents faults and restorations.
Measurements: 63 x 51 x 2 cm.

Portrait of half a body of French school, solved with skill in the psychological capture. The voluminous and curly hair, in half mane, was characteristic of the aristocratic classes of the end of the seventeenth century. The lace scarf knotted around the neck denotes elegance, along with the brocade of the brown coat, under which she wears a silk blouse. But it is above all on the face that the author focuses to delve into the personality of the portrayed, a middle-aged man, with thin lips, melancholic look, reddish flesh tones and faint wrinkles. The naturalistic approach suggests an interest in prioritizing the character's humanity over social rank. The portraitist is in the wake of authors such as Philippe de Champaigne or Hyacinthe Rigaud.