Attributed to Maurice-Quentin de la Tour Saint-Quentin 1704 - 1788

Possibly E. Dréolle de Nodon, Éloge biographique de Maurice-Quentin de La Tour...suivi de notes et documents historiques, Paris 1856, p. 140;
Possibly E. Fleury and G. Brière, Catalogue des pastels de M.-Q. de La Tour. Collection de Saint-Quentin et Musée du Louvre, Paris 1920, no. 83 (as sitter unknown);
N. Jeffares, Dictionary of Pastellists before 1800, London 2006, p. 298, reproduced

Paper has been mounted on canvas. There is a repaired diagonal tear at upper centre edge and another repaired complex tear starting at upper edge, to right of centre, down into right side of hair. Another small repaired tear to shoulder at right and in armpit near lower edge. Upper left corner appears to have been restored, and there is a possible old horizontal fold which runs through chest.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This fine pastel is the only known surviving version of La Tour's portrait, the composition of which is recorded in a painted copy at Versailles, inscribed with the sitter's name and dated 1733.¹  An engraved copy by L.-J. Cathélin is also known.²  According to Besnard, a pastel portrait of Moncrif was exhibited at the Salon in 1748, no. 83 (loc. cit.).

1. See C. Constans, Musée National du Château du Versailles: Les Peintures, Paris 1995, vol. I, no. 3047, p. 537.

2. See A. Besnard, La Tour: la vie et L'oeuvre de l'artiste, Paris 1928, p. 157, no. 343, plate LXI, fig. 109.