Jean Barbault Viarmes, near Chantilly 1718- 1762 Rome

In a letter dated 10th of November, 1751, Jean-François de Troy, the Director of the Acadèmie de France in Rome wrote to the Marquis de Marigny (then the Marquis de Vandières and his superior) regarding a commission that the Marquis had made during his trip to Rome the year before: "le sr Barbault, pensionnaire, a fini six tableaux des douze que vous lui aviés ordonné. Il les a envoyés par le courrier de Lion à M. Soufflot, quis s'est chargé de vous les faire parvenir.  Ces six tableaux sont: le Suisse de la guarde du Pape; le Cocher du Pape; le Chasseur; la Frascatane, la Fille dottée; la Venetienne [Mr. Barbault, pensionnaire, has finished six of the twelve paintings that you have commissioned.  He has sent them by the Lyon messenger to M. Soufflot, who has been charged to send them on to you.  These six pictures are: the Swiss guard of the Pope; The Coachman of the Pope; the Hunstman; the Girl of Frascati; the Dowered girl; the Girl of Venice (see Correspondence des Directeurs de l'Acadèmie de France à Rome avec les Surintendents des Bâtiments, vol. X, p. 332)]."  

Such series of studies of Italian figures had been undertaken by other French artists; Boucher, Greuze and Vleughels all did variations on the theme.  Barbault in fact appears to have specialized in such costume studies, having done a series of Oriental costumes previously.  Pierre Rosenberg (see Jean Barbault, exhibition catalogue, 1977, p. 47 passim) notes that the Costumes Italiennes would most likely have been painted for French grand tourists visiting Rome, filling much the same purpose as served by the vedutisti.  Other versions of both paintings exist with differences in detail and background; all paintings seem to be of much the same size.  It is likely that the initials VG, which exist on the reverse of both the original canvases, is the likely patron for this charming pair.