French School, late 17th century

This portrait of a French aristocrat likely dates to the late seventeenth century. Pictured here in a voluminous brown wig and gold-embroidered robe with black silk lining, the sitter displays a sense of nonchalant elegance through his indirect gaze and relaxed comportment. He holds a scrolled piece of annotated parchment, perhaps a subtle indication of his status as a man of letters. At one point attributed to Robert Le Vrac de Tournières (1667-1752), this small, oval portrait served to capture the likeness of the sitter and promote his social rank.